Using blood proteins to diagnose Alzheimer's disease

Lead Investigator: Professor Paul Morgan
Institution: University of Cardiff
Grant type: Project
Duration: 3 years
Amount: £223,513

Scientific Title: Complement and its regulators as a biomarker set and guide to therapy in Alzheimer's disease.

What do we already know?

One of the body's key immune defences is a group of around 25 blood proteins called Complement. Complement is activated during disease and plays a crucial role in inflammation. However, if misdirected, these proteins can also be harmful to human cells.

Research indicates that Complement proteins are present in the amyloid plaques that develop in the brain in Alzheimer's disease. They are also present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that bathes the brain and spinal cord.

Could complement proteins be the basis of a diagnostic test for the early stages of Alzheimer's?

What does this project involve?

Professor Morgan will analyse samples of blood and CSF for all the complement proteins.

This is the first study to look at all the complement proteins in the context of Alzheimer's.

The work will also use sensitive new techniques to look for subtle differences in proteins between people to identify any protein types that might result in susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease.

How will this work benefit people with dementia?

The research could lead to a new diagnostic tool for detecting the early stages of Alzheimer's based on testing samples of blood or CSF.

The work may also identify protein variants that lead someone having an increased chance of developing Alzheimer's disease.