Colin Combs, Ph.D., Professor
Project: Neuroimmune changes in Alzheimer's disease
Mentor: Colin Combs, Ph.D., Professor
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by dementia. Therapeutic options for attenuating disease are limited. Epidemiologic and genome wide association studies support the idea that immune system dysregulation contribute to disease progression. This suggests that immunomodulatory interventions may serve as viable therapeutic approaches. Unfortunately, we still have much to learn regarding how immune changes may be influencing disease. To address this problem, we utilize transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease to study both age and disease-associated changes in immune cell behavior outside and inside of the brain. In addition, we examine common comorbid, chronic inflammatory diseases such as periodontal disease, obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, asthma, and colitis to determine whether the immune changes of comorbid diseases increase the progression or severity of AD. Our approach typically includes assessment of animal behavior, quantifying disease-related biochemical changes in the brain and diverse organs, defining histologic and cellular phenotype differences, and testing immunomodulatory interventions to improve AD.
