Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by plaques and tangles that appear in an affected brain. The amyloid plaques (protein deposits) that appear are also known to accumulate elevated levels of metal ions, like copper and zinc.

The way the plaques and metal ions interact is thought to play a role in Alzheimer’s-related degeneration, and that’s where UBC doctoral student Lauren Scott wants to focus her efforts with her project, Glycosylated Pyridinone Pro-drugs - a Proposed Treatment for Alzheimer Disease.

“The focus of this project is to design, synthesise and test new, multi-functional drugs for Alzheimer’s disease therapy,” says Lauren, who has been studying and practising biological chemistry for the past five years.

“By removing these elevated concentrations of metal ions and preventing related damage in the brain, I think the symptoms of Alzheimer’s could be prevented or even reversed.”

To start, Lauren and her research partners will prepare a number of chemical compounds and screen them using in-lab tests for factors like antioxidant activities, metal-binding properties, and toxicity.

She believes her background in biological chemistry gives her a broader understanding of the way metals work within the body, providing a unique and valuable foundation to help build understanding and technological innovation in her field.

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