Paving the way for a new approach to Alzheimer’s diagnosis

Lead Investigator: Professor Simon Lovestone
Institution: King's College London
Grant Type: PhD
Duration: 3 years
Amount funded: £75,000
Scientific Title: Blood based biomarkers of disease pathology in Alzheimer's

What do we already know?

Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease relies on assessment of symptoms such as memory loss and so can only be used to diagnose people who are already showing symptoms of the disease.

There is an urgent need for a better diagnostic tool. A great deal of research has focussed on finding a reliable biomarker - a biological signal that is unique to Alzheimer's disease.

Professor Lovestone's team has identified a biomarker called ApoJ, which can be detected in the blood and is linked to formation of amyloid plaques in the brain.

What does this project involve?

This project will investigate ApoJ. The work will involve using biochemical analysis and mouse models of Alzheimer's disease to understand how ApoJ is linked to amyloid.

How will this benefit people with dementia?

Better understanding of the causes of Alzheimer's disease will inform future research into diagnosis and treatments.

This important work could pave the way to a better, earlier diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease.