Friday Science Seminar: The Role of Metals in Alzheimer’s Disease

Join us in welcoming SOU Biology Department Assistant Professor, Dr. Brie Paddock, as she discusses the role of metals in Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a multifactorial, progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by abnormal protein aggregates, loss of synaptic efficacy, and a decrease in memory function. This disease afflicts 5.3 million Americans, has few current treatments and no known cure. However, only a small percentage of cases are monogenic in the cause, including rare mutations in Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) and associated proteins. Increasing evidence indicates both genetic and environmental factors contribute to late-onset AD. We will look at current research in the amyloid hypothesis if AD, including the role of metals in the progression of AD.

Dr. Paddock joined the Biology Department in 2018; she teaches courses in animal physiology and principles of biology. Her background also includes molecular biology, immunohistochemistry, and human physiology. Dr. Paddock’s research centers on synaptic function using the fruit fly (Drosophila) model. She helped to develop a fruit fly model of Alzheimer’s disease, and uses this model to test the role of oxidative stress and environmental factors in the disease’s pathogenesis, particularly in memory function and synaptic structure. Her previous work included the determination of the molecular mechanism of calcium-dependent exocytosis at the synapse, a key event in cell-to-cell communication in the nervous system.

This is a free event and open to the public. Please visit our website to learn more about our future lecture series topics: https://inside.sou.edu/stem/friday-science-seminar-series.html

Light refreshments provided by the STEM Division.