On May 29, 2015, Nature highlighted research by 2014 MetLife Foundation Award for Medical Research recipient Dr. Lary Walker that is applying methods used for Prion disease research to look at Alzheimer’s-related protein folding.
Although the symptoms of Prion, a relativity rare disease caused by improper folding of the prion (PRP) protein, are very different that these of Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Walker believes that Alzheimer’s research can learn from the techniques used by peers studying Prion. By studying differences in shape of misfolded amyoid-β proteins, researchers will be able to better understand differences in symptoms among Alzheimer’s patients.
The MetLife Foundation Awards for Medical Research are reviewed and administered by AFAR.
Lary Walker, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at Emory University.
For more expert insights on Alzheimer’s disease, download AFAR’s InfoAging guide here.
