Using cell culture and animal models of Alzheimer's disease, we are identifying the signaling pathways that are altered by amyloid-beta and tau and how they interact to lower brain BDNF levels
Impact
BDNF is essential for proper brain function, including learning and memory. It is dramatically decreased in Alzheimer's disease, contributing to cognitive decline. By understanding the molecular mechanisms by which Alzheimer's disease pathology impacts BDNF levels, we may find ways to block the effects and raise BDNF levels, thus improving learning and memory.
Student Experience
My graduate student, Elyse Rosa, had primary responsibility for this project. As part of her PhD project, she carried out the experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the paper, in collaboration with the groups in Australia and the US. My undergraduate student, Sujeivan Mahendram, contributed a study for this paper that constituted his 4th-year Biology Honours thesis. Sujeivan is now an MD-PhD student at McMaster.
Countries
Australia, United States of America
Impact
Research
Institutional Partner(s)
University of New South Wales, Australia, , Nathan Kline Institute, /NYU Langone Medical Center
Community Partner(s)
Industry Partner(s)
Key Outcomes
Publications
Sponsorship
Federal Provincial Private Foreign
Sponsorship Details
CIHR, Alzheimer Society of Canada, Ontario Graduate Scholarship, NIH, Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council and Alzheimer’s Australia
