I am a behavioral neuroscientist researching the deleterious effects of an immune challenge (such as a serious bacterial infection) on long-term memory, especially in aged subjects.
Aged subjects show a particular vulnerability to such challenges, which are accompanied by an exaggerated and long-lasting release of pro-inflammatory mediators called cytokines, in the brain. This unrestrained pro-inflammatory response is associated with impaired synaptic plasticity and long-term memory deficits.
The goals of my research are to understand the mechanisms involved in this model, and to develop effective therapies to prevent and/or reverse these detrimental neurological and behavioral outcomes.
https://u.osu.edu/barrientoslab/