Luba Sominsky

Ageing brings an increased vulnerability to cognitive decline and dementia. However, what places some individuals at a higher risk to develop dementia is not well understood. Recent studies suggest that obesity is associated with brain inflammation and significantly increases the likelihood to develop ageing-related cognitive decline. This project will determine whether obesity-induced cognitive decline is driven by increased activation of microglia, the brain immune cells, and if by suppressing the activity of these cells cognitive dysfunction can be improved. 

This study will significantly advance our understanding of the role microglia have in ageing-related cognitive decline and the development of dementia, particularly in the context of obesity. Findings from this project aim to provide a novel target for therapeutic interventions that may benefit individuals with dementia.   

Luba Sominsky is a Vice-Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University.