Stephan Sigrist

Prof. Dr. Stephan Sigrist is a Group Leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Berlin, specializing in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of memory formation and aging. His research combines Drosophila genetics with advanced cell biological approaches to study age-induced memory impairment (AMI).

Dr. Sigrist's research focuses on synaptic plasticity, autophagy, and NPY-signaling in the context of brain aging. His lab uses olfactory conditioning paradigms in Drosophila to investigate how autophagy restoration protects against age-related memory decline. Key findings include demonstrating how spermidine boosts autophagy to maintain presynaptic active zone scaffolds composed of Brp/bruchpilot protein, thereby protecting learning efficacy from aging-induced decline.

His research shows that genetic impairment of autophagy in young animals reproduces synaptic changes typical of aged animals, and that NPY-signaling connects autophagic status with brain-wide synaptic metaplasticity. This work identifies NPY-signaling as a promising therapeutic target for age-related memory impairment.

Dr. Sigrist collaborates with the Schmitz and Garner groups to advance mechanistic understanding of AMI using rodent models, building on his team's characterization of presynaptic signaling in rodents. His work bridges fundamental neuroscience with potential clinical applications for age-related cognitive decline.