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PhD defence: Lasse Stensvig Madsen

The role of cerebral circulation in early Alzheimer's disease

Info about event

Time

Thursday 30 March 2023,  at 14:15 - 16:15

Location

Auditorium C114-101, entrance C, Aarhus University Hospital

On Thursday 30 March at 14.15, Lasse Stensvig Madsen defends his PhD disseration entitled "The role of cerebrovascular dysfunction in prodromal and preclinical Alzheimer's disease - A PET and MRI study". 

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease and the most common type of dementia. It affects millions of elderly people and their families worldwide. Currently, no cure or prevention exists, and only very limited treatment options are available. The disease is characterised by protein aggregation inside the brain, which may disturb the normal cell signalling, and ultimately lead to cell death. However, the cause of this protein aggregation is currently unknown. In recent years, alterations in the cerebral circulation have been suggested as an important factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease. To investigate this, a new PhD project from the Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET-centre, Aarhus University Hospital and Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN), Aarhus University, has focused on the role of the cerebral microcirculation in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Adjustments of the cerebral microcirculation is essential to allow for a sufficient oxygen delivery to the brain tissue, as well as optimal clearance of metabolic waste products from the brain. Failure to control the blood flow through the smallest blood vessels, the capillaries, may lead to a condition of capillary dysfunction, in which the normal flow of blood is disturbed. Capillary dysfunction could reinforce the aggregation of proteins in the brain, thus leading to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

The PhD projected aimed to investigate if capillary dysfunction is present in the very early stages of Alzheimer's disease and if capillary dysfunction worsens as the disease progresses.

The summary is written by the PhD student.

The defence is public and takes place in Auditorium C114-101, Indgang C, Aarhus University Hospital. Please read the press release for more information.

Contact

PhD student Lasse Stensvig Madsen
Mail: lasse.madsen@clin.au.dk 
Phone: (+45) 60388247

Read full press release