Longevity-associated genetic variants and their associations with tau and
amyloid beta burden in primary age-related tauopathy
 
   Lead Investigator:    Kyra Jefferson-George
   Institution      :    University of Pennsylvania
   E-Mail           :    kyra.jefferson-george@uphs.upenn.edu
   Proposal ID      :    1153



   Proposal Description:
   The goal of this research is to investigate associations between reported longevity-associated genetic loci and accumulation of tau and amyloid in primary age-related tauopathy (PART) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD). We hypothesize that there are longevity-associated alleles that will correlate with decreased neuropathological burden in PART relative to AD. Given the growth of the elderly population and the increasing prevalence of dementia, it is critical to understand the mechanisms underlying pathologic protein accumulation in age-related neurodegenerative diseases to guide the development of potential therapies. The mechanisms of tau deposition in PART are unknown, and it is unclear why individuals with PART appear to be resistant to             amyloid-beta accumulation. Understanding these mechanisms in PART can shed light on potential areas of focus in the development of both tau- and amyloid-targeted therapies for the treatment of AD.