Date: Sept. 22, 2023

Source: Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Institute of CNS Regeneration

Author: TU Zhuchi

Translator: LI Yingqi

A JNU research team from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Institute of CNS Regeneration, including Prof. Li Xiaojiang and researchers Tu Zhuchi and Yan Sen, has reported progress in research on the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease by successfully building transgenic monkey models expressing the Tau protein. Their research were published on Sept. 22 in the journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy under the title Tauopathy promotes spinal cord-dependent production of toxic amyloid-beta in transgenic monkeys.

Alzheimer's is the most common neurodegenerative disease, contributing to 50 to75% of dementia cases. Patients have more of the Tau protein in their brains than people who do not have the disease. According to the China Alzheimer Report 2022, with a total number of 15 million dementia patients in China, Alzheimer’s accounts for almost 10 million. A 2015 report showed that Alzheimer’s patients in China generate a great economic burden of about $16.774 billion a year to the whole society and is estimated to increase to $50.759 billion in 2030. Despite years of effort, there is still no effective treatment. 

(Screenshot of the paper)

Li Xiaojiang, Tu and Yan corresponding authors, Dr. Han Bofeng of JNU has made significant contributions to the study. It has received strong support from the Guangzhou Key Research Program for Brain Science, the National Key Research and Development Program, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, JNU, the Guangdong Department of Science and Technology, the Guangzhou Science and Technology Bureau, and the Guangdong Key Laboratory for Research on Non-Human Primate Animal Models.

Link to paper：https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-023-01601-6