2023 Alzheimer's Association Research Grant (AARG)
Diffeomorphic Reconstruction of Amygdala Pathology and AD Molecular Changes
Can changes in a specific area of the brain called the amygdala predict cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s?
Meaghan Morris, M.D., Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD - United States
Background
Research suggests brain changes observed in Alzheimer’s can begin decades before clinical symptoms are present. One of the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s is a reduction in the thickness and volume of a brain region known as the amygdala, which is important for several aspects of cognitive function including emotions, memory, and learning. However, it is unknown how these physical changes in the amygdala contribute to Alzheimer’s progression.
Research Plan
Dr. Meaghan Morris and colleagues will study the mechanisms linking changes in the amygdala and Alzheimer’s. Specifically, they will examine the association between physical changes in the amygdala and the formation of tau tangles, one of the hallmark brain changes in Alzheimer’s. The researchers will do this using brain tissue from individuals who had Alzheimer’s and specialized imaging techniques that can measure changes in the size and shape of the amygdala. The researchers will also measure the levels of tau tangles in the amygdala and analyze genes that are associated with tau and amygdala changes in Alzheimer’s.
Impact
The results of this study may shed new light on the physical brain changes that occur in Alzheimer’s, including those that may precede the clinical symptoms of Alzheimer’s. If successful, the findings may help identify how changes in the amygdala contribute to Alzheimer’s progression.