The project that I am working on examines the physiological causes of a known reduced blood flow in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients. We are able to image brain vasculature in genetically engineered mice with early onset Alzheimer’s disease using a two-photon microscope. By using the images obtained by the microscope, I am studying the differences in the blood vasculature, flow, and consistencies between the Alzheimer and normal mice. In Alzheimer mice, we have observed that increase inflammation in the brain leads to an increase in leukocyte adhesion. This adhesion results in capillary blood flow stalling. We are working on a means of elimination of the leukocyte stalls, which could possibly lead to a clinical treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. I am an undergraduate majoring in Biological Sciences, and plan to graduate in May 2015.
