Laboratory Projects

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD) there is increasing evidence that the supporting cells of the brain (Astrocytes) are involved in the damage which occurs in AD. Astrocytes provide energy and maintain the connections between nerve cells allowing them to pass information from one to another. How information is passed between nerve cells is thought to underlie the formation of memories. Understanding how astrocytes are affected by AD may help us understand why people develop the condition.

Astrocytes pass many substances to nerve cells that they need to produce energy and keep them healthy. These substances include cholesterol and lactate, both vital for maintaining cell function. It is possible that astrocytes in the AD brain don’t work as well as astrocytes in a normal brain. This might mean that they develop problems in the passage of substances to the nerve cells. Leading to difficulties in forming memories.

It is hazardous to remove astrocytes from the living brain, therefore this projects aims to use a new technology that allows us to transform skin cells, so called fibroblasts, into astrocytes, and investigate whether the astrocytes of people with AD work as well, or produce the same amount of substances, as astrocytes in people without AD. This project involves the removal of a small amount of skin from a patients arm, which is then used to create the brain cells.

Cardiff University School of Medicine have been collecting blood samples and interviewing people to try and understand more about how certain genes affect the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease since 2004. So far over 3000 people have helped and as a result they have been successful in finding many previously unknown genes that are involved in Alzheimer’s disease. Although they have begun to understand more about how genetics affect the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, they know there are more genes to find and much more to understand about how these genes work which is why they are conducting this research.

Individuals with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease were asked to help with this research. This will help to search for environmental, biological and genetic factors that influence the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

(not currently recruiting)

Human tissue is vital for dementia research but is currently in short supply and is not covered in standard organ donation schemes. With the support of Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK, Brains for Dementia Research was set up in 2007 to establish a network of brain bank facilities across England and Wales.

It is now a ‘gold standard’ for brain tissue banking, linking six leading centres (based in London, Oxford, Newcastle, Bristol, Manchester and Cardiff). In each bank, people with mild cognitive impairment or a diagnosis of dementia, and healthy participants, are supported to donate their brain by specialist research nurses.

This initiative is unique from other brain banks, as the memory, thinking and behaviour of each prospective donor are monitored throughout their later life through regular assessments. This provides researchers with a complete medical history to accompany the donated brain tissue, allowing them to see how brain changes correlate with symptoms.

(not currently recruiting)