The improved prognosis and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease focus of several investigations at IRBLleida

Lleida, September 20, 2016 Research on Alzheimer's disease is one of the keys to the future to improve the prognosis and monitoring of disease. The way sleep apnea affects the evolution of the disease, the mechanisms involved in the degeneration and the creation of new neurons cognitive and oxidation of the nervous system in the onset of Alzheimer's are some of the projects currently researchers are carrying out the Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida Foundation Dr. Pifarré (IRBLleida). Tomorrow, September 21, marks the International Day of Alzheimer's, declared by the World Health Organization. Unit Cognitive in the region of Lleida, located in the University Hospital Santa Maria de Lleida (HUSM), and the Group of Clinical Neurosciences IRBLleida began in 2015 a study on the relationship between sleep apnea and Alzheimer's disease, entitled "Impact of obstructive sleep apnea in the evolution of Alzheimer's disease. Role of hypoxia and sleep fragmentation. " Patient enrollment has begun, which will last until September 2017, and then it will be tracked. "We believe that the fragmentation of sleep -sleep intermittently- and hypoxia or lack of oxygen during sleep are key to understanding the cognitive decline of Alzheimer's patients," said lead researcher Gerard Piñol, coordinator Unit Cognitive Lleida. It is funded by the TV3 Marathon Foundation with € 174,862.50. Carme Espinet, Professor at the University of Lleida and researcher in IRBLleida, investigates the role played by certain molecules (proNGF and its receptor p75NTR) is increased in Alzheimer's disease. These molecules cause degeneration of neurons exist in an area of ​​the hippocampus-the area responsible for learning and memory. "Our project is focused on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying some loss of memory and cognition associated with Alzheimer's disease from the perspective of adult neurogenesis," said Espinet. "Recent results from our group indicate that the accumulation of proNGF in the hippocampus may endanger adult neurogenesis, contributing to cognitive deficits typical of Alzheimer's," confirmed the principal investigator of the project "ProNGF / p75NTR signaling in adult hippocampal neurogenesis, "which was awarded by the TV3 Marathon Foundation and has funded € 200,000. Also, Pathophysiology Metabolic Group is developing two projects related to Alzheimer's. Alba Naudí directs the project "Identification of lipid biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid as predictors of the development of Alzheimer's disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment," which aims to advance the search for biomarkers to help improve prognosis monitor the disease. A project carried out in collaboration with the Unit of Cognitive HUSM and which has plans to present the results of monitoring of patients in the first quarter of 2017. Also, Naudí co-director, along with Reinald Pamplona, ​​the project "Interactomas and vulnerability marker for discriminating factor in regional neuronal neurodegeneration Associate envejecimiento the normal and pathological CNS" funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI14-00328) with € 99,220.00 . In this project we want to establish trajectories temporary specific biomarkers for aging in different regions of the central nervous system and how these differ in pathological conditions, helping to discover and discriminate triggering Alzheimer pathophysiological level. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that takes humans capabilities. According to the Spanish Confederation of Associations of Relatives of People with Alzheimer's and other Demencias (CEAFA), this disease affects the daily lives of 4.5 million people in the state (family and caregivers). Aging is one of the major risk factors; Therefore, with increasing life expectancy the number of people affected is expected to grow dramatically and progressively in the coming decades.