Kevin Hascup Lab

This neurobiology of aging and Alzheimer’s disease lab is focused on understanding the biological mechanisms associated with successful aging to provide preventive strategies or therapeutic interventions to ameliorate cognitive decline.

    Overview

    Our laboratory takes a geroscience approach to understanding biological processes that contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. The long-term goals of our laboratory are to:

    1. identify nonpharmacological interventions that target insulin and glutamate signaling pathways that prevent or alleviate cognitive decline and
    2. elucidate their mechanisms of action in order to identify pharmacological targets for treating Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

    To address these goals, our laboratory has several ongoing research interests examining the contribution of body temperature, glutamatergic neurotransmission, and glucose homeostasis on cognitive decline in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease as well as extended longevity. These parameters are assessed by using innovative whole animal and molecular biological techniques to measure in vivo neurotransmitter dynamics, cognitive performance, and metabolism.

    Current projects

    •    Neurotransmitter dysregulation in AD (NIH R01 AG057767)
    •    Cell senescence in aging and AD (NIH R01 AG061937)
    •    COVID-19 Infection on AD (NIH R01 AG061937-S3)
    •    Core body temperature on AD pathogenesis
    •    Model organism development for AD, aging, and COVID-19
    •    Cell senescence in epilepsy

     

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    News

    Hascup Lab_McFadden

    Study suggests colder environments do not improve cognition in Alzheimer’s

    New findings out of the Hascup research groups suggest the body's decline in metabolic function when aging, combined with a chronic colder environment, may increase Alzheimer’s disease progression — particularly in women.
    Alzheimer's research

    Glutamate shows potential for identifying change from healthy aging to Alzheimer’s

    A new publication from Drs. Kevin Hascup and Erin Hascup research groups at the Smith Alzheimer’s Center at SIU Medicine shows the potential for using glutamate to develop therapies for those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
    Oladele

    Meet Oladele (Dickson) Owasoyo

    Oladele (Dickson) Owasoyo, PhD, is the newest addition to the research team in the Hascup Labs.

    Publications

    Resistance to mild cold stress is greater in both wild-type and long-lived GHR-…
    Chronic, Mild Hypothermic Environmental Temperature does not Ameliorate Cogniti…
    Friend or Foe? Defining the Role of Glutamate in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease
    Growth Hormone Signaling Shapes the Impact of Environmental Temperature on Tran…
    Full list of publications

    Lab Team

    Lab Collaborators

    Past Lab Team Members

    • Lindsay Alewelt
    • Matthew Cleveland, MD
    • MaKayla Cox
    • Nahayo Esperant-Hilaire, MD        
    • Tracy Evans, PhD
    • Patrick Fitzgerald, MD
    • Thomas Johnston
    • Nadeem Khan, MD
    • Abigail Levy, MD
    • Erik Lokaitis
    • Neha Mokhasi
    • Oladele Owasoyo, PhD
    • Sujata Pandey
    • Collin Pauly
    • Teonna Piphus
    • Hannah Roberts
    • Lindsey Sime
    • Ernesto Solis, Jr., PhD
    • Aaron Sul, MD
    • Farah Tamizuddin, MD
    • Darrow Traylor
    • Niyant Vora
    • Bradley Vost, MD

    Team photos