Scholarship to advance research on Alzheimer’s

The Pasqual Maragall Foundation has granted a scholarship for a research project focused on the study of the initial stages of Alzheimer’s diseaseled by Dr. Amayra Hernandez-Vegaresearcher at the Bioengineering Institute of Catalonia (IBEC).

As reported in a statement this Thursday, it is one of the projects selected in the fourth edition of the Pasqual Maragall Researchers Program (PMRP), co-financed by the Adey Foundation, for research grants for promote “innovative” studies on Alzheimer’s and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

The investigation analyzes the initial changes of the tau protein“key in the neuronal structure”, when it begins to modify its behavior and form pathological aggregates, to identify the mechanisms that trigger the disease.

“The objective of the project is generate new knowledge about the mechanisms that trigger the disease in its initial phases through complementary experimental models, with the aim of contributing to improving the prognosis and quality of life of the affected people,” he explained.

It will be done together with Dr. Natalia Rodríguez-Muelafrom the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), and will combine models in vitro and humans from familial Alzheimer’s identify factors associated with age and “possible inhibitors” that stop the initial progression.

During the awarding of the scholarship this Wednesday, the director of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Dr. Arcadi Navarroconsidered “essential to nurture this talentsince the definitive solutions that will eradicate Alzheimer’s can only come from the generation of more and better research.”

And he pointed out that “The Foundation aims to do sciencebut also strengthen science throughout the countrybecause we know that we have the necessary talent, capacity and experience.

With the aim of promoting clinical or translational research projects focused on Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging, The scholarship program will allocate a total of 1.6 million eurosas reported in a note.

Poor sleep may contribute to long-term brain deterioration

“Insufficient or poor quality sleep has a direct impact on cognitive functions and may contribute to long-term brain deteriorationespecially in people with risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s,” said Dr. Ana Fernandez Arcosneurologist and medical coordinator of Clinical Operations and researcher in the Clinical Research Group and Risk Factors for Neurodegenerative Diseases of the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), during an informative talk on sleep and brain health in which the award-winning project was presented.

The talk, titled Impact of sleep on brain healthbrought together about 500 attendees and also had the participation of the ambassadors of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Anna Ruiz and Jordi Guimerawho highlighted the importance of dissemination and social awareness of this disease.