Uncovering the Role of Myelination in the Pathogenesis and Progression of Alzheimer’s disease

Doctoral student: Piotr Pobiarzyn
Student: Agnieszka Baranowska

The primary objective of this project is to investigate the interplay between oligodendrocyte pathology and neurodegenerative diseases to uncover novel targets and mechanisms for therapeutic interventions and disease-modifying strategies to treat AD. It is unknown whether decreased myelination precedes Aβ pathology or whether Aβ affects the ability of oligodendrocytes to produce or rebuild myelin leading to neurodegeneration. We hypothesize that defective myelination and dysfunction of OPCs and/or mature oligodendrocytes play a vital role in the pathogenesis and progression of AD. Our main goals are to (1) decipher whether Aβ influences the ability of oligodendrocytes to myelinate, (2) to determine if restoring myelination and OPC function protects against Aβ pathology-associated neurodegeneration. Restoration of OPC/oligodendrocyte function may be a new therapeutic strategy for AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

This project is being carried out in partnership with Dr. Sinéad O’Sullivan, German Center for Neurodegenerative Disease (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE), Bonn, Germany

Come back to Remyelination