Investigating the Biological Basis of Dementia
Neurobiological basis for neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease and related conditions
The brain pathology of Alzheimer's Disease emerges many years before overt symptomology appears. Our studies focus on identifying the earliest nerve cell changes that characterise incipient Alzheimer's Disease. Investigations utilise both human brain studies as well as investigations of mice that have been genetically engineered to form β -amyloid plaques. Advanced imaging techniques are used to examine how β -amyloid plaques cause damage to nerve cells, as well as the subsequent cascade of degenerative changes that result in the progressive symptomology of Alzheimer's Disease. The related experimental models serve as a platform to investigate new drugs that may inhibit brain pathology in this condition.
Research Team
- Professor James Vickers (Group Leader/Contact Person
- Dr Anna King
- Dr Olivier Bibari
- Stanislaw Mitew
- Justin Dittman
- Graeme McCormack
Outcomes
Mitew S, Kirkcaldie MT, Halliday GM, Shepherd CE, Vickers JC, Dickson TC Focal demyelination in Alzheimer's disease and transgenic mouse models. Acta Neuropathol 119:567-577.
Vickers JC, King AE, Woodhouse A, Kirkcaldie MT, Staal JA, McCormack GH, Blizzard CA, Musgrove RE, Mitew S, Liu Y, Chuckowree JA, Bibari O, Dickson TC (2009) Axonopathy and cytoskeletal disruption in degenerative diseases of the central nervous system. Brain Res Bull 80:217-223.
Woodhouse A, Shepherd CE, Sokolova A, Carroll VL, King AE, Halliday GM, Dickson TC, Vickers JC (2009) Cytoskeletal alterations differentiate presenilin-1 and sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol 117:19-29.