PhD student Emma Norton

Emma's project asks:

How does inflammation impact the brain in Lewy body dementia?

Lewy body dementia is linked to the build-up of a protein in the brain called alpha-synuclein, known as “Lewy bodies” within nerve cells.  

Many people with Lewy body dementia show changes in the brain which are also seen in Alzheimer’s disease. 

We know when these changes are present alongside Lewy bodies, people tend to experience faster decline, but we do not yet understand why.

Tell us about your project

Inflammation is part of the body’s normal defence system, but when it becomes long-lasting, it can do more harm than good. In Alzheimer’s disease, brain inflammation has been shown to play an important role in disease progression but less is known about how inflammation contributes to Lewy body dementia.

My project will study human brain tissue from people who had Lewy body dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or a combination of both diseases (mixed dementia). I will look at what type of inflammation is present in the brain and how this relates to the build-up of harmful proteins.  

How will this research impact people living with dementia?

I aim to shed light on why Lewy body dementia affects people differently and why it can progress faster when Alzheimer’s disease changes are also present.  

In the long term, understanding brain inflammation in Lewy body dementia may also support the search for new treatments to improve the lives of people affected by this condition.

What does it mean to you to be a part of this Doctoral Training Centre?

Being part of a Doctoral Training Centre offers a sense of community and support from researchers with wide-ranging and interdisciplinary expertise who are working towards a common goal.  

It is a privilege to be supported by Alzheimer’s Society and to know that my research is part of a wider effort to improve the lives of those affected by dementia.