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

Preclinical Brain Lesions Related to Alzheimer’s Disease in Young Adults

What kinds of brain changes may occur in young adults decades before the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms?

Renata Leite, Ph.D.
University of Sao Paulo Medical School
Sao Paulo, Brazil

Background

In Alzheimer’s, the proteins beta-amyloid and tau accumulate to form plaques and tangles respectively, two hallmark brain changes observed in the disease. Recent studies suggest that these brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s appear decades before the onset of clinical symptoms, including changes in memory. However, these early brain changes, and how they may progress to dementia, are not well understood 

Research Plan

Dr. Renata Leite and colleagues will study brain tissue from the Biobank for Aging Studies (BAS), a diverse, community-based sample of postmortem brains containing a large proportion of cognitively unimpaired young adults. The researchers will measure the amount of beta-amyloid and tau accumulation in brain tissue from cognitively unimpaired individuals ranging in age from 18 to 60 years old. They will study the impacts of genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s on beta-amyloid and tau accumulation by conducting whole-genome sequencing studies (a complete readout of the genetic material - DNA). In addition, the research team will determine how socioeconomic factors, cardiovascular risk factors, race, age, and sex are associated with beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles.

Impact

The results of this project may contribute to our knowledge of the preclinical brain changes that precede Alzheimer’s. A better understanding of these brain changes may inform efforts to detect the disease earlier.