Five Ways Empire Studies Affect Dementia Understanding | Imperial News

To commemorate Dementia Action Week, we’ll look at how Imperial College London influences our understanding of dementia.

Dementia Action Week 2022 will be held from May 16th to 22nd, with a focus on diagnostic themes.More than 900,000 people in the UK live with dementia, according to a survey General Beliefs about memory loss, a sign of normal aging, are the greatest obstacle to those seeking diagnosis.

This week is an opportunity to raise awareness and encourage people who may have undiagnosed dementia to come forward and feel ready to take the next step in seeking help. To commemorate Dementia Action Week How Imperial College London has led the fight against dementia.

1. Designed a common baker’s yeast to produce the main ingredients of dementia treatments

Earlier this year, researchers at Imperial College London and the National University of Singapore (NUS) were able to: It transforms yeast into a biofactory to produce a compound called D-lysergic acid (DLA). DLA is an alkaloid used in medicines to treat dementia, Parkinson’s disease, migraine and other neurological conditions. It is estimated that 10 to 15 tonnes of compound are produced each year to meet the global demand for such medicines.

Professor Paul Freemontfrom Infectious disease department At Imperial College London, the co-principal investigator for this study said: However, the relationship with this familiar microorganism is evolving. Through this exciting collaboration, we were able to use fungal cells to function as a miniature factory and produce raw compounds for pharmaceuticals. ”

“This is an example of what seemingly small and insignificant things have the potential to change human life, allowing us to age better and reduce the environmental impact of industrial drug production. We provide medicines that enable us. “

2.2. Our researchers are designing molecules that interfere Alzheimer’s disease peptide

Last summer, a team of imperial researchers said It prevents the accumulation of a specific peptide known as amyloid β, which is one of the key features of Alzheimer’s disease.

With the help of ultrasound, the team demonstrated that these molecules can cross the blood-brain barrier of mice and target the parts of the brain where the damaging peptides most frequently accumulate.

Lead author Tiffany Chung, Department of Chemistry When Bioengineering Imperial states: “Few metal-based molecules have been investigated as potential inhibitors of amyloid β accumulation due to toxicity issues and the difficulty of crossing the blood-brain barrier.”

“The molecule we designed can interfere with amyloid β and appears to be non-toxic. It can be delivered across the blood-brain barrier using ultrasound, so no invasive treatment is required.”

3.3. It was createing ‘Atlas “ Of the brain Map Different stages of Alzheimer’s disease

The UK Dementia Institute (UK DRI) The Multiomics Atlas Project (MAP) will be launched in March 2020. 2m initiative to use advanced technology in an unprecedented range To examine tissues from eight different regions of the brain.

The project was designed to be extensible to add new data to existing datasets, including new technologies developed, using the same set of donor brains. This study is expected to be extended to ultimately map the pathology of other neurodegenerative diseases. The team hopes to study the tissue in the early stages of the disease to determine the optimal time to target the disease before extensive neurodegeneration occurs.

This is the first time that British brain tissue resources have been adjusted on such a scale to study the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease at all stages of the disease. Dr. Johanna JacksonFrom us Department of Brain Science“Developing this resource for all researchers in this field gives us an exciting and unique opportunity to work together to understand the processes involved in Alzheimer’s disease.”

4.4. New research Checking it up Why people with type 2 diabetes develop dementia

New discoveries may help identify risk factors for dementia People with diabetes will be notified of interventions to prevent or delay diabetes.

The data were analyzed from 227,580 people with type 2 diabetes over the age of 42, of whom about 10% developed dementia. The team examined participants’ medical histories for 20 years prior to the diagnosis of dementia, examined changes in cardiometabolic factors and body weight, and compared them to people who did not develop dementia.

Research and funding British Diabetes Foundation, Blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, and other “cardiac metabolic factors” were analyzed to identify changes in these factors associated with the development of dementia in later years. These factors, known to affect heart health, can also affect brain health and may play a potential role in the development of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes. It is suggested that there is.

Dr. Elizabeth RobertsonThe principal investigator of the British Diabetes Foundation, who funded the study, said: Delay the onset of dementia. ”

5.5. We are exploring How genes affect brain cells Alzheimer’s disease

New funding for a £ 1.5 million grant from Medical Research Council (MRC) For the first time, we support new research Investigate changes in how genes function in specific brain cell types To better understand the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Previous studies have shown that Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by changes that occur in certain cell types, such as widespread loss of neurons. Therefore, it is important to individually measure the genetic activity of each different brain cell type to understand how they relate to state progression. Mapping the differences may allow for gradual changes to elucidate the mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease.

Professor Jonathan Mill, a research leader at the University of Exeter, said: By identifying genomic changes in specific cell types in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease, we gain a deeper understanding of the molecular processes involved in this terrible condition and identify pathways that may be targets for new medicines and treatments. You will be in a unique position that can be identified. .. ”