Bissen Brainwalk contributes to research on dementia
“If we can identify which nerve cells and circuits are affected first, this will pave the way for completely new methods of preserving the memory function of patients,” says Klas Kullander. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt, Uppsala University
The Bissen Brainwalk Fund is awarding SEK 250,000 for the benefit of brain research to researcher Klas Kullander at Uppsala University. He plans to investigate how the brain’s memory circuits begin to fail early in dementia disease – and how they can be protected.
“I’m very pleased and grateful to receive support from Bissen Brainwalk,” says Klas Kullander, Professor of Neuroscience at Uppsala University. “The aim of this project is to understand what is going on in the brain’s memory networks at the very beginning of the course of the disease. If we can identify which nerve cells and circuits are affected first, this will pave the way for completely new methods of preserving the memory function of patients.”
Focus on the hippocampus
The project focuses on a small but very important group of nerve cells in the hippocampus known as OLM interneurons, which regulate the balance between storing new memories and retrieving old ones. Previous research by Kullander’s group has shown that certain subtypes of these cells have a disproportionate influence on the brain’s network activity and behaviour associated with memory.
“Small changes in the activity of these cells can have major consequences for the functioning of memory circuits. The funding from Bissen Brainwalk will now help us take the next step and investigate whether these particular cells are especially vulnerable in the case of dementia disease, and whether it is possible to restore more normal brain activity by targeting them. We hope that this will contribute in the longer term to more accurate therapies for individuals with dementia,” Kullander says.
Annica Hulth
Bissen Brainwalk
- Bissen Brainwalk is an organisation that raises money for research into brain diseases, injuries and disabilities.
- Bissen Brainwalk also works to raise awareness and understanding of people affected by brain injuries, brain diseases or other brain disabilities.