New PhD-project investigates why some brain cells survive disease
Sara Sejer Sørensen, a newly enrolled PhD student in the Thomas Kim Group, has received funding from the Danish Parkinson’s Association for a new research project investigating neuronal resilience in the brain during neurodegeneration.
Although there is already extensive research into neurodegenerative diseases and neuronal vulnerability, there is still limited understanding of why certain neurons survive while others perish – particularly in brains affected by comorbid conditions.
Comorbid brain disorders refer to cases where multiple diseases occur simultaneously, such as Parkinson’s disease in combination with Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, or depression. These concurrent conditions can influence both disease progression and the ability of brain cells to survive.
The project employs advanced 3D brain scanning to investigate why some brain cells fare better than others when the brain is affected by disease. By combining brain imaging with knowledge of how cells endure under stress, and by analysing data from patients with various types of brain disorders, the project aims to provide new insights into how diseases develop – and why certain cells are more resilient than others.
In the long term, this knowledge could help improve both diagnosis and treatment.
“I am very grateful that the Parkinson’s Association recognises the potential of the project and supports this research,” says Sara Sejer Sørensen.