Thomas James Hollingworth

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences
• Optimization of the phosphorylated neurofilament marker SMI34 for identification of degenerative axonal loss in Alzheimer’s disease

This study aimed to optimize an immunohistochemical protocol to assess the reliability of the antibody SMI34 as a marker of axonal damage in post-mortem fixed brain tissue in regards to Alzheimer’s disease. Statistical analysis of the data collected from controls and Alzheimer’s cases produced a non-significant p value, and therefore it must be concluded that SMI34 is not a reliable marker of degenerative axonal loss in Alzheimer’s disease.

Project Supervisor: Professor Johannes Attems, Institute of Neuroscience

Funding source: Newcastle University