2024 Alzheimer's Association Research Grant to Promote Diversity (AARG-D)
Dissecting Commissures' role in Neurodegeneration using Genetic Techniques
How do connections between the two halves of the brain contribute to dementia?
Carolina Ochoa-Rosales, Ph.D.
BrainLat Institute
Santiago, Chile
Background
Our brains are divided into two halves, or hemispheres. To communicate and work together, these halves need bridges called commissures. Commissures are bundles of nerve fibers that connect the hemispheres of the brain.
If commissures are damaged or not functioning properly, it can disrupt the brain's ability to process information and coordinate functions. Some research suggests that damage to commissures might be involved in dementia and other brain diseases, as these diseases can affect communication between different brain regions. More research is needed to fully understand the specific role of commissures in these conditions.
In preliminary research, Dr. Carolina Ochoa-Rosales and team found that smaller brain connections in a specific area of the brain, called the anterior commissure, was linked to poor cognitive performance. They also found that some genes that are linked to Alzheimer's and other brain diseases may impact the size of the anterior commissure. Taken together, this data suggests that certain genes might play a role in both brain diseases and brain structure.
Research Plan
Dr. Carolina Ochoa-Rosales and colleagues will analyze data from over 85,000 individuals that participated in various research studies around the world. With this diverse sample, they will analyze brain imaging (MRI) data to study how the size and condition of commissures are related to symptoms of dementia. Additionally, the researchers will compare the genes among the people with dementia to identify specific genetic variations that influence the size and structure of commissures. Moreover, they will create a new database of genetic information from Latino people to help them better understand how genes are related to dementia in the Latino population.
Impact
The results could help better understand the role of commissures in dementia. If successful, this may be used to help diagnose dementia. Furthermore, it may help understand dementia in different ethnic groups, especially Latinos.