University of Brighton Research Photo Competition
04. Myrthe Mampay
Image title: Dyeing to remember...
Description: Preservation of cognitive function throughout the human lifespan has emerged as a major medical challenge of the 21st century. The fundamental question as to why some individuals age with their cognitive function intact whereas others develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease remains unanswered. Two hallmark pathologies required for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease are extracellular plaque deposits of β-amyloid peptide and neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein.
The picture presents two fluorescently stained brains to identify the expression of different proteins. The blue dye stains chromatin, the red dye stains glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), found in astrocytes and the green dye stains amyloid-β (1-42) protein. The difference in amyloid-β staining between a healthy (top) and Alzheimer’s diseased (bottom) brain is undeniable. Amyloid-β plaques accumulate in the hippocampus and cortex of the brain, where they disrupt learning and memory.
Understanding the physiological changes in Alzheimer’s diseased brains will help us move forward towards preventing and eventually curing the disease.
04. Myrthe Mampay
Image title: Dyeing to remember...
Description: Preservation of cognitive function throughout the human lifespan has emerged as a major medical challenge of the 21st century. The fundamental question as to why some individuals age with their cognitive function intact whereas others develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease remains unanswered. Two hallmark pathologies required for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease are extracellular plaque deposits of β-amyloid peptide and neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein.
The picture presents two fluorescently stained brains to identify the expression of different proteins. The blue dye stains chromatin, the red dye stains glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), found in astrocytes and the green dye stains amyloid-β (1-42) protein. The difference in amyloid-β staining between a healthy (top) and Alzheimer’s diseased (bottom) brain is undeniable. Amyloid-β plaques accumulate in the hippocampus and cortex of the brain, where they disrupt learning and memory.
Understanding the physiological changes in Alzheimer’s diseased brains will help us move forward towards preventing and eventually curing the disease.