Tackling causes of Alzheimer disease
Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in the world. By 2040, as many as 1.4 milllion Canadians may be affected, with healthcare costs reaching $293B. In part, AD neurodegeneration is caused by an imbalance between the deposit and clearance of amyloid, an abnormal protein that builds up in organs and interferes with their normal function.
Dr. Gerhard Multhaup and his team’s identification and characterization of novel anti-amyloid inhibitors will advance our understanding of the molecular processes leading to amyloid plaque formation in the brain. It will also help develop new approaches to inhibit the neurotoxicity of amyloid Ab peptides, the main component of the plaques found in the brains AD sufferers.