Dementia mortality in Finland is the highest in EU that accounts 23% of the total deaths in the country. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find ways to reduce the burden of this devastating disease. Amyloid beta (Aß) peptide is a molecule that forms sticky plaques in the brain of individuals suffering from Alzheimer's disease. It surrounds the nerve cells, induces inflammation, and kills synapses. Unfortunately, research based on this Aß hypothesis has not led to clinical success. This project focuses on an alternative paradigm that shifts the focus of Aß as a toxic molecule in elucidating the physiological function of Aß that plays a role in the immune response by promoting removal of foreign substances present in the brain. By using state-of-art omics, functional and structural data we will find out how Aß interacts with the immune system in 3D tetraculture and in vivo models. Due to this novel approach this study has the potential to open new avenues for drug discovery.

2024

2028