PhD student Sara Ibgui

Sara's project asks:

Why do amyloid plaques speed up Lewy body dementia progression?

It is essential to understand how and why Lewy bodies develop in Lewy body dementia, so that patients can receive appropriate diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

Tell us about your project

Recent studies in mice* have shown that neurodegeneration can be accelerated when Lewy bodies, caused by the build-up of a protein called synuclein, occur at the same time as build-up of amyloid-beta plaques, a key marker in Alzheimer’s disease.  

In fact, experimental mouse models have shown that Lewy bodies spread faster when someone has both Lewy bodies and amyloid-beta plaques. It’s thought that inflammation and a loss of cellular energy causes the acceleration in brain cell damage, exactly how this happens is poorly understood. 

We aim to develop a new experimental mouse model of Lewy body dementia with both Lewy bodies and amyloid-beta plaques. Using the insights gained from the model, we also aim to test novel therapeutic strategies.

To test the new model and treatment efficacy, we will use a variety of metrics including behavioural analysis and analysis of brain tissue for the presence of neuropathology, neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction.

How will this research impact people living with dementia?

This project may be used to inform diagnostic metrics for people with Lewy body dementia, hopefully leading to more accurate diagnoses, and more informed treatment plans.

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

I am humbled by the offer to be a part of the Alzheimer’s Society Doctoral Training Centre, and keen to contribute toward understanding dementia at a multidisciplinary level with a community of early career researchers.

*Alzheimer’s Society is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and supports its position statement on the use of 
animals in research. Read our full position.