The overall goal of the project is to investigate how the brain's support cells, the astrocytes, contribute to Alzheimer's disease and how we can influence them with different treatments. Interesting results from our previous research show that astrocytes influence processes that can lead to the spread of the disease in the brain. With this new approach, we hope to identify future treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease.

More specifically, we will

1. Investigate how astrocytes contribute to the spread of Alzheimer's disease pathology.
2. Identify strategies to increase astrocyte degradation of amyloid-beta and thus limit the spread of the disease.
3. Study how astrocytes are involved in the extensive nerve cell death in the brain in Alzheimer's disease.

To study the role of astrocytes in the spread of Alzheimer's disease pathology, we will primarily use mouse and human cell cultures, but we will also perform complementary animal studies and analyze patient tissue. Currently, there is no drug treatment available to prevent nerve cell death in Alzheimer's disease or to limit the spread of the disease in the brain. Our results will provide important insights into the role of astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease and thus promote the development of new therapies.