Glymphatic clearance as a novel therapeutic target for motor neuron disease

  • Wright, David (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
  • Walker, Adam (Chief Investigator (CI))
  • Zamani, Akram (Chief Investigator (CI))
  • Jacobson, Laura Helen (Chief Investigator (CI))

Project: Research

Project Details

Project Description

One of the hallmarks of neurodegenerative disease is the accumulation of aggregated toxic proteins. These toxic waste proteins are removed from the brain by the glymphatic system, a waste clearance system for the brain that is largely disengaged during wakefulness and highly active during sleep. Recent evidence suggests that impairment of the glymphatic system may lead to the accumulation of aggregated toxic proteins and increased vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases, such as motor neuron disease (MND). One of the hallmarks of MND, is the accumulation of an essential protein known as TDP-43. This innovative study will utilise dynamic contrast enhanced MRI to investigate glymphatic clearance in a preclinical model of TDP-43 pathology and correlate these outcomes with behavioural and histological measures.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date1/01/2131/12/21

Funding

  • Calvary Health Care Bethlehem: A$46,000.00

Keywords

  • Motor Neurone Disease
  • amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • glymphatic system
  • magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)