The Molecular and Cellular Basis of Dementia in Huntington's Disease

Grant number: 509031 | Funding period: 2008 - 2010

Completed

Abstract

We will use a genetic mouse model of Huntington's disease (HD), to understand how cognitive disorders (dementia) are caused, focusing on cells and molecules within the brain. We will investigate how the HD gene mutation disrupts communication between brain cells (neurons), as well as disrupting production of new cells (via adult neural stem cells). The results of this project will not only have implications for treating HD but also for other diseases involving dementia, such as Alzheimer's.

Related publications (6)

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The influence of the HPG axis on stress response and depressive-like behaviour in a transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease

X Du, TY Pang, C Mo, T Renoir, DJ Wright, AJ Hannan

2015-01-01

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG tandem repeat mutation encoding a po..

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Localized changes to glycogen synthase kinase-3 and collapsin response mediator protein-2 in the Huntington's disease affected brain

NKH Lim, LW Hung, TY Pang, CA Mclean, JR Liddell, JB Hilton, QX Li, AR White, AJ Hannan, PJ Crouch

2014-01-01

All cases of Huntington's disease (HD) are caused by mutant huntingtin protein (mhtt), yet the molecular mechanisms that link mhtt..

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Impaired basal and running-induced hippocampal neurogenesis coincides with reduced Akt signaling in adult R6/1 HD mice

MI Ransome, AJ Hannan

2013-05-01

Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder affecting a range of cellular and molecular functions in the brain..

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Behavioural state differentially engages septohippocampal cholinergic and GABAergic neurons in R6/1 Huntington's disease mice

MI Ransome, AJ Hannan

2012-02-01

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterised by progressive motor, psychological and cognitive decline..

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Deficits in Spermatogenesis but not Neurogenesis are Alleviated by Chronic Testosterone Therapy in R6/1 Huntington's Disease Mice

AJ Hannan, MI Ransome

2012-02-01

Despite the well established central pathophysiology of Huntington's disease (HD), less is known about systemic impairments that a..

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Wheel running and environmental enrichment differentially modify exon-specific BDNF expression in the hippocampus of wild-type and pre-motor symptomatic male and female Huntington's disease mice

MS Zajac, TYC Pang, N Wong, B Weinrich, LSK Leang, JM Craig, R Saffery, AJ Hannan

2010-05-01

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an essential neurotrophin and regulation of its expression is complex due to multiple ..

University of Melbourne Researchers