Title: Novel Genes and Pathways Contributing to Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s and Related Neurodegenerative Diseases

Speaker: Dr. Huaxi Xu ,Professor & Director of Neuroscience Initiative

Time: November 7 2017 (Tue) 11:00-

Venue: Biochemical Building, third floor hall

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an incurable and fatal brain-wasting disorder that causes memory loss and progressive dementia in the elderly. Although aging is the main risk factor for AD, several causal gene mutations and genetic risk factors linked to AD expression have been identified. However, the mechanism of action and significance of these risk factors to AD pathophysiology have yet to be fully explored. I will present evidence describing known and novel genetic risk factors linked to AD and related tauopathies; and will discuss their respective contribution to beta-amyloidproduction and deposition in brain, tau-containing neurofibrillary tangles formation, synaptic failure and cognitive decline. I will also discuss our recent findings of novel signaling pathways that regulate tau metabolism/neurofibrillary tangles formation in tauopathies such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and AD. Finally, I will discuss novel mechanisms for preserving and protecting the structural and functional integrity of synapses against beta-amyloid-mediated synaptoxicity in AD and Down syndrome. I will conclude by presenting new ideas and directions for drug discovery strategies aimed at regulating the expression and function of these novel genes and pathways in AD and tau-related disorders.

Host PI：Dr.Yong Zhang