Investigating the causes of white matter damage and its link to dementia

Lead Investigator: Dr Atticus Hainsworth
Institution: St George's, University of London
Grant type: Project
Duration: 29 months
Amount: £126,441
Scientific Title: Blood-brain barrier neuropathology, white matter lesions and dementia.

What do we already know?

White matter is highly important for brain function. It allows messages to be sent between brain cells and areas of the brain much faster, and protects the parts of brain cells that make these connections. MRI scans allow us to see the white matter in a living person's brain and, as MRI has become more widely used, damage in white matter areas has been more frequently observed, including in people with dementia.

There is clearly a relationship between white matter damage and cognitive impairment. In Alzheimer's disease, white matter lesions are frequently seen - it is highly likely that at least some of these white matter injuries are due to problems with the brain's blood vessels, though the exact cause remains unknown.

A theory about this damage is that, in aged brains and possibly over a long time, 'leakiness' in some of the blood vessels in the brain leads to these lesions - blood vessels within the brain are usually much better sealed than in other areas of the body, and only certain proteins and cells within the blood are allowed to enter the brain.

What does this project involve?

Using human brain tissue, this project aims to discover if the blood vessels within these areas of white matter damage are a result of blood vessels that are more leaky.

The brain tissue to be used has corresponding clinical data that details the level and type of cognitive deficits experienced. MRI scanning of the donated brains has been carried out to identify white matter lesions, and the precise location of those lesions. This project will measure leakiness in blood vessels from those white matter lesions.

How will this benefit people with dementia?

If white matter lesions are found to be related to leaky blood vessels, treatments could be developed that prevent this leakiness. Treatment such as this may help to prevent white matter lesions detected on brain scans from developing further, possibly delaying the onset of further cognitive impairments and dementia.