The possible influence of stress on the characteristics of Alzheimer's disease in an animal model.

• Grant number: 24/16514-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Roberto Giorgetti de Britto
• Grantee: Sara Fernandes de Paula
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that represents the most common cause of dementia. The hallmarks used to diagnose AD are the formation of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, associated with neuroinflammation. Manifestation rates of this disease have increased in recent years, which makes it essential to do an in-depth study and define the risk factors for susceptible patients to the disease, in order to delay clinical manifestations and provide a better quality of life for the patient. On the other hand, psychological stress is, nowadays, defined as homeostasis being challenged by a stressor which, when gone beyond healthy limits, can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in a systemic response. In general, stress can interfere with normal physiological functions and cause pathological conditions. In light of this, this study aims to verify the possible correlation between stress and the manifestation and development of Alzheimer's Disease. The restraint stress model will be used in transgenic mice for AD (3xTg), and the proteins beta-amyloid and TAU will be studied through immunohistochemistry and morphological microglial analysis. Short and long memory tests will also be carried out. With this project, it is expected to verify whether the stress may contribute to the appearance and evolution of AD signs in an animal model.