Muriel Katja Frisch
Main Focus
Metabolic and psychiatric disorders show a high degree of comorbidity, suggesting the existence of common biological mechanisms in the etiology of these diseases. We hypothesize that one such mechanism could be the circadian clock, which regulates 24-hour rhythms of virtually all behavioral and physiological processes, including metabolism and higher brain functions important for mood regulation. Supporting this hypothesis, genetic disturbance of circadian rhythms in mice results in a depression- and anxiety-like phenotype as well as weight gain. This project aims to characterize the metabolic factors contributing to increased weight gain in a mouse model of disturbed circadian rhythms.