Natalia Podlutskaya
Showed that rapamycin's anti-Alzheimer's and pro-cognitive effects in mice track with autophagy
MS Biology, Kharkov University, Ukraine · researcher, Barshop Institute, UT Health San Antonio (Richardson/Galvan labs, c. 2008–2013) · now research advisor/mentor, BLaST Program, Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks (since 2015)
BLaST Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks ↗
Contributed to SPI2010: long-term rapamycin prevented memory deficits and lowered amyloid-beta in an Alzheimer's mouse model, tracking with increased autophagy. Contributed to HAL2012: a lifespan-extending rapamycin dose improved learning/memory, reduced anxiety/depression-like behavior in mice.
Part of the broader Barshop Institute comparative-aging tradition (oxidative stress, mitochondrial function across long-lived mammals).
Moved into science education/mentoring at UAF's BLaST program, training undergraduates in molecular biology.
Milestones in the Atlas
| Year | Evidence | Study |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | A | Inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin abolishes cognitive deficits and reduces amyloid-beta levels in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease SPI2010 Contributed to showing long-term rapamycin prevents memory deficits and lowers amyloid-beta in an Alzheimer's model. |
| 2012 | A | Chronic inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin modulates cognitive and non-cognitive components of behavior throughout lifespan in mice HAL2012 Contributed to showing a lifespan-extending rapamycin dose improves cognition and reduces anxiety/depression-like behavior. |