2024 Alzheimer's Association Research Grant (AARG)
Oligodendrocyte dysfunction in AD revealed by nascent proteomics.
How are the cells that make myelin involved in Alzheimer’s?
Tal Iram, Ph.D.
Stanford University
Stanford, CA - United States
Background
Myelin is a protective layer that wraps around nerve cells in the nervous system and is important to the proper function of nerve cells. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, there is myelin breakdown and damage to the myelin, which is linked to declines in memory and cognitive function. The cells that make myelin, called oligodendrocytes, lose function with aging. Studying how oligodendrocyte function declines may help understand the cause of myelin loss in Alzheimer’s.
Research Plan
Dr. Tal Iram and colleagues have developed a special technique to follow specific proteins in the brains of mice. The team will use this technique plan to track the proteins in myelin and oligodendrocytes to see how these proteins changes as the mice age. They will compare the findings from this study to changes in meylin and oligodendrocyte observed in genetically engineered Alzheimer’s-like mice.
Moreover, the research team will identify proteins that are released by oligodendrocytes into the blood or CSF of genetically engineered Alzheimer’s-like mice. They hope to find proteins that are unique to Alzheimer’s that could serve as diagnostic markers.
Impact
If successful, the study results may help understand the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s, such as changes in the proteins of myelin-making cells. Additionally, their work may suggest new possible ways to detect Alzheimer’s.