Principal Investigators

    Tara Spires-Jones

    Institution

    University of Edinburgh

    Contact information of lead PI

    Country

    United Kingdom

    Title of project or programme

    Targeting tau to prevent Abeta mediated synapse degeneration in Alzheimer’s

    Source of funding information

    Alzheimer's Research UK

    Total sum awarded (Euro)

    € 609,025

    Start date of award

    01/11/2013

    Total duration of award in years

    4.0

    The project/programme is most relevant to:

    Alzheimer's disease & other dementias

    Keywords

    Research Abstract

    Memory is made possible by the ability of synapses, the connections between neurons in the brain, to change in response to environmental inputs.  In Alzheimer’s disease, memory declines because synapses and neurons become dysfunctional and die.  In fact, loss of synapses very strongly corresponds to the severity of dementia in Alzheimer’s patients. The goal of this project is to find out whether the two key disease-causing proteins in Alzheimer’s – amyloid beta and tau – act together to cause this synaptic degeneration.   Further, we will test whether therapeutic treatments to reduce tau levels in the brain can halt memory and synapse loss. This study is important, as it will provide new insights into mechanisms of synapse loss in Alzheimer’s and should lead to new therapies to treat this debilitating disease.

    Lay Summary

    Further information available at:

Types: Investments > €500k
Member States: United Kingdom
Diseases: Alzheimer's disease & other dementias
Years: 2016
Database Categories: N/A
Database Tags: N/A

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