2023 Alzheimer's Association Research Grant (AARG)
Studying transposable elements abundance in Alzheimer’s disease brains
Can parts of an individual’s genetic code contribute to their risk for Alzheimer’s?
Muralidharan Sargurupremraj, Ph.D.
University of Texas Health Science Center
San Antonio, TX - United States
Background
Age is one of the key risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s. Recent studies have shown that during aging, an individual’s genome, or the complete set of genes in cells, can become vulnerable to changes. Certain structural elements of DNA (genetic material) can move within the genome. The movement of these elements, called transposable elements (TEs), can turn “on” harmful gene variations that potentially promote brain cell damage or death. Studies have suggested a possible link between harmful TEs and neurodegeneration. However, the relationship between TEs and one’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s is unknown.
Research Plan
Dr. Muralidharan Sargurupremraj and colleagues will use data from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) as well as the Religious Orders Study and Rush memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP). Both long-term studies include thousands of individuals who have been followed for decades, and includes data on cognitive assessments, brain scans, and blood samples. Using sophisticated gene sequencing techniques, the researchers will identify Alzheimer’s-related TEs using brain tissue from over 800 individuals within the FHS and ROSMAP cohorts. Lastly, the team will link the Alzheimer’s-related TEs with clinical data to examine the mechanisms by which TEs contribute to hallmark brain changes in Alzheimer’s.
Impact
If successful, these results could determine whether TEs contribute to an individual's genetic risk of Alzheimer’s and has the potential to uncover new therapeutic avenues for Alzheimer’s treatment.