Pratishtha Chatterjee

The accurate diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies is challenging particularly in its early stage. In dementia with Lewy bodies, abnormal clumps of alpha-synuclein (aS) are present in the brain cells. In some people with Alzheimer’s disease, these aS clumps co-exist in the brain cells along with typical Alzheimer’s disease protein abnormalities. Recent evidence indicates co-existence of aS clumps with typical Alzheimer’s disease protein abnormalities accelerates impairment of a person’s thinking abilities. Therefore, detection of aS clumps is not only important for dementia with Lewy bodies but also for Alzheimer’s disease. The presence of aS clumps is detectable in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer’s disease using spinal fluid, however spinal taps required for spinal fluid collection are invasive. Therefore, this project aims to identify unique blood patterns reflecting aS clumps in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer’s disease via a technique called proteomics. 

The aS clumps also disrupt transmission of messages in the brain. Dr Chatterjee aims to identify compounds that will prevent or reduce formation of aS clumps. This will be done by conducting drug repurposing screens for drugs that already have regulatory approval for other diseases, as an initial step towards the development of a therapeutic strategy to halt further aS clumping. This project will ultimately influence accurate and timely diagnosis for precision medicine in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer’s disease and take an initial step towards identifying therapeutic agents against aS clumping. 

Read more about this exciting project

Dr Pratishtha Chatterjee is a Senior Research Fellow in the NHRMC Centre of Research Excellence in Enhanced Dementia Diagnosis at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne.