2023 Alzheimer's Association Research Grant (AARG)
Identifying the novel mechanism of LPS-DHA and therapeutic approach for ADD
Can increasing levels of a specific omega-3 fatty acid in the brain be a novel therapy for Alzheimer’s?
Sugasini Dhavamani, Ph.D.
University of Illinois
Chicago, IL - United States
Background
Research has shown that individuals living with Alzheimer’s have low levels of a specific molecule called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the brain. DHA is an essential omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil and has been found to boost memory and other cognitive abilities. However, the precise mechanisms by which DHA promotes brain health in Alzheimer’s are unknown.
In initial studies, Dr. Sugasini Dhavamani and colleagues have identified that a particular form of DHA, called lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC)-DHA that could increase the levels of DHA in the brain and may be a potential therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s.
Research Plan
Building on their initial findings, Dr. Dhavamani and the team will feed genetically engineered Alzheimer’s-like mice a diet enriched with LPC-DHA and will measure DHA levels in the animals’ brains after 3, 6, and 12 months. They will also assess memory and behavioral changes in mice fed the LPC-DHA enriched diet compared to mice on a normal diet. Additionally, the team will measure the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques, one of the hallmark brain changes in Alzheimer’s, and brain inflammation.
In a related experiment, the team will grow microglial cells, the immune cells in the brain, with LPC-DHA in a laboratory dish to identify the cellular mechanisms by which LPC-DHA can prevent inflammation.
Impact
The study results could help our understanding of the role of DHA in Alzheimer’s. If successful, the results could also lead to a new therapeutic strategy for the prevention or slowing of Alzheimer’s progression.