FSU Program in Neuroscience

Interest

The reciprocal interactions between aging, circadian clocks and drug sensitivity. Currently, the majority of basic alcohol research focuses on alcohol’s effects during adolescence. Even though the aging population is increasing in the U.S. and more than 85% of alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis deaths occur in individuals 45 years and older, there is very little research investigating the effects of alcohol during middle and old age. As such, my current project is focused on identifying the endogenous factors mediating the age-induced dampening of the circadian clock and the increase in alcohol sensitivity. Due to its great genetic power, ease of maintenance and conserved genetic, physiological and behavioral traits, I use Drosophila melanogaster (the fruit fly) as the model organism for my research studies.

Recent Publications

De Nobrega AK, Mellers AP, Lyons LC, Aging and circadian dysfunction increase alcohol sensitivity and exacerbate mortality in Drosophila melanogaster, Exp Gerontol, 2017 PubMed
De Nobrega AK, Lyons LC, Circadian Modulation of Alcohol-Induced Sedation and Recovery in Male and Female Drosophila, J Biol Rhythms, 2016 PubMed
Bobzean SA, DeNobrega AK, Perrotti LI, Sex differences in the neurobiology of drug addiction, Exp Neurol, 2014 PubMed

Faculty Advisor

Lisa Lyons, Biological Science

Aliza DeNobrega

Faculty Advisor