Grant: International COEN Initiative in Neurodegeneration

In the aging brain two major events contribute to loss of memory and dementia: disease of brain vessels and accumulation of a protein, amyloid, that causes brain inflammation. This project will study how these processes work together to cause cognitive decline. The project will also test effects of new molecules designed to speed up the elimination of toxic amyloid from the brain. This will be evaluated in animal models using strong expertise of German and Canadian researchers and their advanced imaging techniques. Should the treatments prove effective, the project will proceed to more rigorous evaluation of these molecules for their application in human patients.