2022 Alzheimer's Association Research Fellowship to Promote Diversity (AARF-D)

Characterization of Neuroinflammation Biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease

What brain changes are associated with inflammation in Alzheimer’s?

Andrea L. Benedet, Ph.D.
University of Gothenburg, Institute for Neuroscience and Physiology
Gothenburg, Sweden

Background

The immune system is complex and serves to maintain our overall health. In the brain, the immune system specifically serves to maintain healthy nerve cells. Microglia are the primary immune cells of the brain, and they play a major role helping to maintain healthy nerve cells. Individuals with Alzheimer’s typically experience brain inflammation caused by changes in the immune system, including increased activity of microglia, which can damage nearby nerve cells. 

Recent studies have shown that overly active microglia tend to gather in areas of the brain susceptible to Alzheimer’s-related brain changes, such as beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles, two hallmark brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s. These findings suggest microglia may play multiple roles in the development of brain disease. However, while research strongly suggests this,  the exact biological mechanisms underlying brain inflammation in Alzheimer’s are not well understood.

Research Plan

Dr. Andrea Benedet and colleagues will study immune-related proteins in blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF, the biological fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord) and the brain to identify biological markers (biomarkers) of inflammation. The researchers will study samples from individuals in the Canadian Translational Biomarker in Aging and Dementia (TRIAD) cohort, which includes individuals with Alzheimer’s, individuals with mild cognitive impairment (a subtle form of memory loss that may precede dementia), and cognitively unimpaired younger and older adults. 

Using blood and CSF samples from this cohort, Dr. Benedet and team will identify potential biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s-related brain inflammation. The researchers will also study the associations between the immune-related biomarkers they identify and other known biomarkers of Alzheimer’s (such as plaques and tangles).

Impact

The results of this project may shed light on Alzheimer’s-related brain inflammation and inform the development of novel biomarkers of Alzheimer’s.