Is there a link between head injury and dementia?

Lead Investigator: Dr Jill Fowler
Institution: University of Edinburgh
Grant type: Fellowship
Duration: 4 years
Amount: £179,000

Scientific Title: Do inflammatory mechanisms cause Alzheimer's disease following brain injury?

What do we already know?

People who have suffered from severe head or whiplash injuries in the past are at greater risk of developing dementia.

Research suggests that the inflammation that occurs following head injury may encourage formation of the plaques and tangles which are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. 

During her previous fellowship Dr Fowler developed a mouse model of brain injury. She has shown that injury leads to increased levels of proteins like the toxic amyloid-beta. She has seen the same trend in brain tissue of people with dementia.

What does this project involve?

Dr Fowler's fellowship has been extended to enable her to continue this important work.

She will analyse how brain injury affects the hundreds of proteins in the brain. She aims to build up a picture of the biological pathways involved and their role in Alzheimer's disease.

She will also investigate whether a group of anti-inflammatory drugs called Titerpenoids could protect against neurodegeneration.

How will this benefit people with dementia?

It is important to understand the possible link between brain injury, inflammation and dementia. This is also the focus of another ongoing research project.

This work could pave the way for new treatments to prevent Alzheimer's disease and dementia, particularly in people who have suffered from head injury.