DUAL AND MULTIPLE PROTEINOPATHIES IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DEMENTIAS – RISK FACTORS, PROGNOSTIC INDICATORS AND CLINICAL RAMIFICATIONS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$604,644.00
Summary
Dementia is the umbrella term used to refer to a number of different clinical presentations,each associated with distinct histopathological signatures of protein aggregates and spread.However, converging evidence now suggests the common co-occurences of dual/multiple proteinopathies across dementia syndromes.The present study will identify the clinical ramifications and factors that are most predictive for such proteinopathies in a large cohort of longitudinally-studied patients with dementia.
Finding Clinical Predictors For The Underlying Pathology In Different Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) Syndromes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$136,593.00
Summary
Due to the ageing population in Australia it is predicted that the prevalence of dementia will increase four-fold by 2050. Developing disease-modifying therapies for dementia is therefore a priority, however we also need to be able to accurately identify patients for whom these therapies will be beneficial. Here we will develop strategies for identifying patients with particular protein abnormalities in their brain, the substrate of most therapeutic interventions.
In Vivo Tau Imaging In Alzheimer’s Disease And Other Dementias
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$538,998.00
Summary
Alteration of the normal protein tau leads to its deposition inside the brain cells leading to their death. These deposits have been well characterized and they are associated with cognitive impairment. We propose to study tau deposits in vivo in humans using positron emission tomography (PET) and assess its association with cognition and other signs of neurodegeneration
Characterisation Of Eating Behaviour And Metabolic Phenotypes Across Neurodegenerative Diseases: Insights For Survival And Progression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,891.00
Summary
It has been suggested that metabolic changes and eating behavior could modify the progression of neurodegeneration. This research aims using brain imaging, pathological examination and novel techniques from obesity research to examine if there are characteristic metabolic changes in patients with frontotemporal dementia, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease; how these changes relate to eating behavior, and how they may affect disease progression and survival.
SELECTIVE VULNERABILITY IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS: MECHANISM OF TAU PATHOLOGY
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,072,324.00
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias affect 230,000 people in Australia, with numbers expected to grow to 730,000 by 2050. The direct costs for health and residential care alone exceed $6.6 billion per annum. By identifying genes that protect degenerating neurons in the Alzheimer brain, a deeper understanding of the underlying processes will be gained and therapeutic targets will be defined that will assist in developing a therapy for a yet uncurable disease.
Role Of Apolipoprotein D In Alzheimer's Disease And Frontotemporal Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$575,612.00
Summary
ApoD is a highly conserved lipocalin known for its antioxidant nature and role in regulation of inflammation. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are known to play a critical role in dementia. This project will study the association of apoD to inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in Alzheimer’s disease and Frontotemporal Dementia, two major forms of dementia. It will also examine the impact of apoD on disease pathology. Hence this project will lead us to therapeutic potentials of apoD.
This research proposal outlines studies aimed at identifying specific biomarkers of neurodegeneration. Given the complexity and clinical overlap of these disorders the identification of diagnostic biomarkers for their early detection is crucial; especially in the identification of at-risk individuals before the development of symptoms. This will allow early intervention with disease-modifying medications which by arresting neuronal loss would prevent or delay onset of the disease.
NOVEL MECHANISMS UNDERLYING THE SPREADING OF TAU PATHOLOGY IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND OTHER TAUOPATHIES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$640,106.00
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias affect 230,000 people in Australia, with numbers expected to grow to three times that by 2050. The direct costs for health and residential care alone already exceed $6.6 billion per annum. The underlying pathomechanisms and the processes that drive the progression of neurodegeneration in these devastating disorders remain largely unknown. Here, we will identify novel therapeutic targets and assist in developing therapies for yet incurable diseases.
Brain Connectivity Biomarkers Predict Specific Memory Consolidation Deficits Across Dementia Subtypes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$83,149.00
Summary
With the increasing ageing population there is expected to be a significant increase in the number of dementia cases in the near future. This project aims to improve the accuracy of existing diagnostic protocols for dementia by combining recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging with traditional cognitive assessments. We expect the outcome to improve detection in the early stages of disease onset so that patients may receive immediate medical treatment.
Neural Signatures Of Disease Spread And Evolution In Motor Neurodegenerative Syndromes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,768.00
Summary
A lack of understanding of the earliest changes brought on by motor neurone disease (MND), otherwise known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), prevents early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. The proposed project aims to comprehensively characterise neurological changes prior to disease onset in pre-symptomatic carriers with a known genetic mutation linked to MND using targeted neuropsychological assessments and advanced multi-modal neuroimaging to track disease progression.