Pilot Study -- Galanin Neurons and Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology

Gabriel, Steven M.

Abstract

The degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's Disease. The recently isolated neuropeptide, galanin, has been found to be associated with magnocellular cholinergic perikarya in the nucleus basalis, suggesting its importance in the cholinergic deficits associated with this disease. This 29 amino acid, amidated peptide may represent a new peptide family and may function as an inhibitory neuromodulator throughout the body. This pilot project proposes to study the participation of galanin in the neuropathology associated with Alzheimer's Disease using reagents directed against human galanin, mRNA levels in normal and Alzheimer's Disease brain will be evaluated using northern blot techniques. In parallel to these studies, the distribution of human galanin peptide in normal and Alzheimer's Disease brain will be evaluated using a radioimmunoassay specific to human galanin. The data derived from these studies will provide important information concerning the role of galanin in the neuropathology and the symptoms associated with this Alzheimer's Disease.

Funding Agency

• Agency: National Institute of Health (NIH)
• Institute: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
• Type: Specialized Center (P50)
• Project #: 5P50AG005138-08
• Application #: 3802544
• Support Year: 8
• Fiscal Year: 1991

Institution

• Name: Mount Sinai School of Medicine
• City: New York
• State: NY
• Country: United States
• Zip Code: 10029

Publications

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Edler, Melissa K; Sherwood, Chet C; Meindl, Richard S et al. (2018) Microglia changes associated to Alzheimer's disease pathology in aged chimpanzees. J Comp Neurol 526:2921-2936

Mitchell, A C; Javidfar, B; Pothula, V et al. (2018) MEF2C transcription factor is associated with the genetic and epigenetic risk architecture of schizophrenia and improves cognition in mice. Mol Psychiatry 23:123-132

Weintraub, Sandra; Besser, Lilah; Dodge, Hiroko H et al. (2018) Version 3 of the Alzheimer Disease Centers' Neuropsychological Test Battery in the Uniform Data Set (UDS). Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 32:10-17

Munger, Emily L; Edler, Melissa K; Hopkins, William D et al. (2018) Astrocytic changes with aging and Alzheimer's disease-type pathology in chimpanzees. J Comp Neurol :

Wilmoth, Kristin; LoBue, Christian; Clem, Matthew A et al. (2018) Consistency of traumatic brain injury reporting in older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Clin Neuropsychol 32:524-529

Hadjichrysanthou, Christoforos; McRae-McKee, Kevin; Evans, Stephanie et al. (2018) Potential Factors Associated with Cognitive Improvement of Individuals Diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia in Longitudinal Studies. J Alzheimers Dis 66:587-600

Mincer, Joshua S; Baxter, Mark G; McCormick, Patrick J et al. (2018) Delineating the Trajectory of Cognitive Recovery From General Anesthesia in Older Adults: Design and Rationale of the TORIE (Trajectory of Recovery in the Elderly) Project. Anesth Analg 126:1675-1683