Alzheimer’s disease, a debilitating brain disorder with limited treatment options, has long challenged researchers. Specifically, researchers have struggled with slowing the buildup of amyloid beta plaques, harmful clumps in the brain that exacerbate the disease by damaging brain cells and causing memory loss.
Recently, researchers from the University of Utah’s Nuclear Engineering Program (UNEP), in collaboration with Dr. Andrew Roberts of the Department of Chemistry and Drs. Satoshi Minoshima and Donna Cross of the Department of Radiology, have developed a groundbreaking approach to tackle these plaques. Inspired by cancer treatment methods, their innovative technique utilizes tiny particles known as alpha particles to break down chemical bonds in amyloid beta plaques. This method, called Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT), delivers these particles directly to the harmful areas while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.
Dr. Aidan Bender, a UNEP PhD graduate, spearheaded this pioneering research on Alzheimer’s disease. His remarkable work is being published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, the premier journal in the field.
Dr. Tara Mastren, an Assistant Professor at UNEP, expressed immense pride in her former student’s significant contributions.
“Aidan excelled in research and developed many skills and techniques needed to tackle this study,” said Dr. Mastren. “The research from his publication is the first step in determining if this treatment method is feasible and has allowed us to move into testing in vivo models.”
Additionally, this research received funding from the University of Utah’s 1U4U initiative, which aims to bring together research and projects from health sciences and the U’s main campus to increase their societal impact. 1U4U’s support of this project underscores the value of Dr. Bender’s contributions.
Continue reading “Breaking Boundaries In Alzheimer’s Disease” at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.