Research Projects
Understanding the link between hormone processes and Alzheimer’s
Awarded to:
Dr Scott Miners
Current award:
£84,274.00
Institution:
University of Bristol
Dates:
1 January 2019 - 31 December 2021
Full project name:
Age-associated changes in the renin-angiotensin system - implications for future clinical trials
Diagnosis
Treatments
Understand
Risks
Symptoms
Researchers at the University of Bristol are investigating the link between the hormone system controlling brain blood flow and the progression of Alzheimer’s disease
It takes around 17 years and $1 billion to get a drug from the laboratory to the clinic.
The repurposing of drugs that are licensed for the treatment of other conditions is a rapid, potentially safer and more cost-effective alternative to drug development.
One class of drugs that has the potential to be repurposed for Alzheimer’s disease are blood-pressure lowering drugs.
Dr Scott Miners’ team have previously shown that a hormone system that helps control blood pressure becomes more active in Alzheimer’s disease.
This overactivity is linked to the build-up of amyloid and tau proteins, key hallmarks of Alzheimer’s, and can drive high blood pressure.
These findings resulted in a pioneering clinical trial of a blood pressure lowering drug for Alzheimer’s.
Five new studies that also target blood pressure drugs have followed on from this trial.
It is still unclear when this overactivation of this system happens in relation to the start of Alzheimer’s.
This project aims to address this question.
Understanding when the system starts to go wrong will help ensure that clinical trials stand the best chance of success, as treatment can be started at the right time.
Dementia researchers in Bristol benefit from funding boost
Read the news release about Dr Miners' project.
