The importance of synapses in Alzheimer’s disease 

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most pressing medical issues of our time. Synapse
loss correlates strongly with the progression of symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease, but
mechanisms of synapse loss remain poorly understood. In this lecture, Prof Tara
Spires-Jones will explore the importance of understanding synaptic pathology for
developing life-changing treatments. Spires-Jones’ group has observed the
accumulation of pathological proteins amyloid beta, tau, and alpha synuclein within
individual synapses in neurodegenerative diseases. Further, they find evidence of
trans-synaptic spread of pathological proteins from pre to post synapses which
contributes to the spread of pathology and neurodegeneration through the brain.
They also observe that astrocytes and microglia are important in synapse
degeneration. Understanding synapse degeneration and the spread of pathological
proteins through synapses will be important for developing disease modifying
therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the current state of knowledge of mechanisms of synapse loss in
   Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Understand the role of synapses in the propagation of pathology through the brain
   in Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Understand the potential therapeutic implications of understanding synaptic
   pathology in Alzheimer’s disease