Ghrelin in Dementia

PI: Prof Alison Yarnall

Funder: Weston Brain Institute

BAM project member: Dr Ellen Silva

Background

An infographic with a stomach surrounded by a stick figure displaying a tremor, a graphic of a head which is fading away and a graphic of a head with a brain full of question marks. 
This study is researching the link between a stomach hormone and Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s disease dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies.

Aims & Objectives

An infographic of a stomach with hormones inside, pointing to a graphic for food intake which then points to a graphic of a fading head 
The purpose of the study is to measure a hormone called ghrelin in the blood while fasting and after a test meal to help us understand if it’s linked to memory problems with any of these diseases. We will be measuring ghrelin in the blood to see if the levels correlate with memory function. We will also try to determine whether factors from the blood are damaging to nerve cells that are grown in a dish.

Outcomes

An infographic of the ghrelin hormone with two arrows pointing to a graphic of a head containing a brain with question marks in it and a head which is fading. 
This study will allow us to determine whether the hormone can be used to help diagnose dementia.