Investigating the role of inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease
Lead Investigator: Dr Claudie Hooper
Institution: Institute of Psychiatry, KCL
Grant type: Fellowship
Duration: 3 years
Amount: £196,475
Scientific Title: Are Wnt or insulin conditioned microglia neuroprotective in Alzheimer's disease?
Evidence suggests that treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs earlier in life could reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Conversely, studies also suggest that boosting the immune response is beneficial to people with the disease.
There appears to be a link between inflammation and development of Alzheimer's disease but this link is very poorly understood.
There are specialised immune cells called microglia in the brain that secrete crucial survival factors for nerve cells. Dr Hooper is treating microglia with Wnt and insulin to analyse the effect on their biochemistry.
She is also investigating whether these cells help in reducing formation of toxic amyloid plaques, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease.
She will determine whether Wnt or insulin could be used as the basis of drugs to reduce symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
This work will also improve our understanding of the role of the immune system in Alzheimer's disease.
Back to list of current projects
Institution: Institute of Psychiatry, KCL
Grant type: Fellowship
Duration: 3 years
Amount: £196,475
Scientific Title: Are Wnt or insulin conditioned microglia neuroprotective in Alzheimer's disease?
What do we already know?
Inflammation is a key part of the immune response.Evidence suggests that treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs earlier in life could reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Conversely, studies also suggest that boosting the immune response is beneficial to people with the disease.
There appears to be a link between inflammation and development of Alzheimer's disease but this link is very poorly understood.
What does this project involve?
Two proteins, Wnt and insulin, are known to help slow progression of Alzheimer's disease.There are specialised immune cells called microglia in the brain that secrete crucial survival factors for nerve cells. Dr Hooper is treating microglia with Wnt and insulin to analyse the effect on their biochemistry.
She is also investigating whether these cells help in reducing formation of toxic amyloid plaques, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease.
How will this benefit people with dementia?
Dr Hooper is creating an investigative system that will be a valuable tool for testing the effect of treatments in the future.She will determine whether Wnt or insulin could be used as the basis of drugs to reduce symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
This work will also improve our understanding of the role of the immune system in Alzheimer's disease.
Back to list of current projects
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