Grant: Project Grant

The aging population in Canada and prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasing rapidly. Although exactly how the brain becomes dysfunctional in AD is still uncertain, it is known that memory centers in the brain are affected. In particular, synapses, that allow communication between brain cells and memory formation, are disrupted in AD and the decreased actions of hormones in the brain have also been associated with dementia. Here, we will investigate the role of irisin - a novel hormone boosted by physical exercise- in memory processes. We already found that AD patients have less irisin in the brain, and that memories are not formed when brain irisin is depleted in mice. In contrast, when the brain is supplemented with irisin, memory impairments are prevented. Here, we propose to investigate if a gene therapy approach that increases irisin can reproduce or even boost the beneficial actions of exercise in memory. Counteracting decreases in brain irisin, either through gene therapy or exercise, has the potential to keep brain cells healthy and connected, effectively combating loss of brain function, including memory, in AD.