Understanding Brain Networks Causing Associative Memory Impairments in AD

We will identify target neural circuits and cells that will slow or mitigate the progression of associative memory impairments in AD.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects 6 million people in the US, but no cure exists. Although molecular and cellular mechanisms of AD become clearer, it is still unclear what type of neuronal brain activity is lost in AD. If we understand this, we may be able to develop a therapy to prevent memory loss in AD patients. In this project, we will identify the underlying causes of brain cell dysfunction, and test if artificial reactivation of brain cell activity restores associative memory in AD mice. These studies are expected to lead to a new method for restoring memory in AD patients.

We are one of the only few labs studying circuit mechanisms underlying associative memory in the lateral entorhinal cortex, and presumably the first lab that focuses on the associative memory impairment in AD. Our lab has all experimental setups for the proposed in vivo electrophysiological recording and an associative learning behavioral paradigm. The proposed study represents high innovation because these systems neuroscience-oriented methods have not been applied in the AD research field.

My research will help us identify target neural circuits to prevent progression of AD and to slow or mitigate the progression of associative memory impairments in AD patients. Our results may also lead to the future development of effective circuit-based therapeutics applicable to preserve or improve memory function in AD patients, including brain reactivation using deep-brain stimulation.