Lindsay Duvernoy

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  Developing Mathematical Models to Investigate Pathways Responsible for Protein Aggregation in Alzheimer's Disease
  Lindsay Duvernoy

  Every 65 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). AD is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, and it has become a national healthcare crisis. AD is a neurodegenerative disorder, which atrophies the cerebral cortex and subcortical regions of the brain. The Amyloid Hypothesis of AD focuses on extracellular amyloid beta 42 ( ) protein plaques. Based on the model by Puri et al. (2010), different rates of input signaling received by neurons can be quantified by their unique synaptic weights. In this work, we have recreated the Puri model, a 7th order state variable system, which illustrates inputs of crosstalk between neuronal components including the neuron, astrocytes, and microglia. Our hypothesis states through quantifying increased rates of input signals of , we illustrate through mathematical modeling how negatively impacts neuronal survival and highlight the synergistic effect of from neurons and astrocytes on neuronal death ( ). This research demonstrates that produced by astrocytes plays a larger role in than previously reported. Our results will lead to a greater awareness of the biological origins of AD.