Tanith Harte

Project Title: Developing new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease through unravelling the immunomechanisms of gamma oscillation

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic degenerative wasting disease that affects the brain resulting in loss of memory. It is the leading cause of dementia worldwide and has become one of the most challenging societal problems due to ageing populations. Currently there is no cure for AD with treatments only temporarily reducing or delaying symptoms. Recent studies suggest that brain-waves called “gamma waves” are impaired in AD patients and this is associated with the neuro-degeneration. Further research indicates that manipulating these gamma waves reduces brain pathology in mouse models of AD, likely through modulating the important function of microglia and other immune cells in the brain during the development of the disease.

The aim of my project therefore is to study the immune cells and molecules which mediate the action of the gamma wave oscillation, to determine the underlying immunological mechanisms of reduced brain pathology. By understanding how the immune system is regulated during the AD development with these gamma oscillations the project will provide new insights into the immunopathogenic mechanisms of AD and work further towards a cure.