Question: With the research you have been doing have you figured any information about how diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's come along?

Zuzanna Konieczna answered on 16 Mar 2021:

Hey, thanks for the question! We currently think that neurodegeneration (loss of function of brain cells, as happens in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s) is linked to protein aggregation. Proteins that are normally perfectly happy in the brain, can be made slightly “wrong”. When you are healthy, you can get rid of these wonky protein without a problem. Trouble starts when you can’t or don’t – the protein can stick together (aggregate). The protein can form small clusters and big clumps. Whilst the big clumps can break through cell membranes and cause damage, we now suspect that the smaller species may be even more harmful. The problem is, this happens to less than 1% protein in the brain, so it’s super hard to observe! I’ve been working on a special microscope and a range of molecular probes (a bit like labels) that I could use to observe these proteins & distinguish between the different types of clumps formed. I still have a fair bit of time on the project (3 years), so fingers crossed I get to use my tools and take a look at what’s going on there!