Washington University and AstraZeneca collaborate in Alzheimer’s research

The major focus of the alliance will be biomarkers, characteristic changes in the brain and spinal fluid, that physicians can use to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and track its response to treatment.

The new research projects created by the Washington University and AstraZeneca collaborative agreement will include an effort to better understand the connections between Alzheimer’s disease and a class of central nervous system compounds called tau proteins. Researchers hope to identify changes in tau proteins present in the spinal fluid that they can add to a panel of indicators of Alzheimer’s disease.

Other projects will include looking for new genetic markers linked to Alzheimer’s disease risk and testing potential Alzheimer’s treatments developed by AstraZeneca scientists in models used for Alzheimer’s research by the University faculty.