2022 Alzheimer's Association Research Grant to Promote Diversity (AARG-D)

Cyclooxygenase-1 PET Imaging as a Novel Neuroinflammatory Biomarker

Can a new brain scan technique identify indicators of brain inflammation in older adults with and without cognitive impairment?

Min-Jeong Kim, M.D., Ph.D.
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY - United States

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 other dementia-related brain changes, such as beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles, two hallmark brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s. 

Previous studies have identified an enzyme named cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) that is involved in inflammation and associated with activated microglia. However, the role of COX-1 in the progression of nerve cell death is not well understood. 

Research Plan

Dr. Min-Jeong Kim and colleagues believe that COX-1 may be useful as a biological marker (biomarker) for brain inflammation in brain diseases. Previously, the research team showed they could measure levels of COX-1 in the brains of cognitively unimpaired individuals using a type of brain scan called positron emission tomography (PET). In this study, Dr. Kim and colleagues will extend their technique to study COX-1 levels in individuals with Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment (MCI, a subtle type of memory loss that may precede Alzheimer’s). 

The researchers will recruit 18 individuals (ranging from cognitively unimpaired to MCI to mild Alzheimer’s). The participants will undergo a PET brain scan to determine levels of COX-1 in different brain regions. Dr. Kim and colleagues will compare levels of COX-1 in the brains of participants in the three groups and identify the brain regions associated with the highest levels of COX-1.

Impact

The results of this project may shed light on the role of brain inflammation in brain diseases, including Alzheimer’s. The findings may support the use of COX-1 as a novel biomarker of nerve cell death.