Project Overview

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, affecting memory, thinking, and daily functioning. AD is characterized by the buildup of two proteins, amyloid-β and tau. Specifically, tau protein is responsible for the loss of brain cells, leading to dementia. In addition to these two proteins, however, studies have also shown that inflammation plays an important role in how the disease develops and progresses. Immune cells in the brain, such as microglia, normally help clear waste and protect neurons. However, when their function is impaired, harmful proteins can accumulate, worsening brain damage. Recent studies also suggest that other immune cells, such as T cells, become activated in AD and may further increase inflammation and brain injury.

Our research aims to understand how these different parts of the immune system interact at various stages of Alzheimer’s disease to drive tau progression. We will combine advanced brain imaging techniques with cutting-edge molecular analyses of cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid surrounding the brain). This will allow us to study how inflammation in the brain relates to the accumulation of tau proteins, as well as to changes in memory and cognition.
By identifying key immune pathways and interactions that drive disease progression, our findings could help uncover new treatment strategies. Drugs that modulate the immune system are already used for other conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, and could potentially be repurposed to slow or prevent AD. Ultimately, this research will deepen our understanding of the biological processes that cause dementia and bring us closer to personalized therapies for people living with AD.

Principal Investigator

Tevy Chan , McGill University

Team Members

Jo Anne Stratton, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University

Pedro Rosa-Neto, Douglas Mental Health University Institute

Marcel Seungsu Woo, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

Paolo Vitali, McGill University

Jose A. Morais, McGill University Health Centre

Partners and Donors

Krembil Foundation