Participants
Koh Zhi Wei
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a common form of memory loss in older people, second only to Alzheimer’s. DLB is thought to be caused by the build-up of faulty proteins killing nerve cells. One specific clump forming protein called alpha-synuclein is thought to cause DLB. However, it might be that the connections between nerve cells, the synapses, are filled by clumps of alpha-synuclein. These clumps in synapses might stop signals passing from one nerve cell to another, causing the symptoms of DLB.
To see if synapses are blocked, this project will use a special test that detects only the clumped version of alpha-synuclein. Synapse samples from DLB patients will be tested using the test. If clumped alpha-synuclein is detected, this will tell us that symptoms in DLB could be because the synapses become damaged and fail to pass signals, giving us important clues to possible treatments for DLB.
Funded by: Newcastle University Research Scholarship
Project Supervisor: Dr Chris Morris