ARUK 2022 | Correlation between synaptic density and cognitive issues in ALS

Anna Sanchez Avila, PhD Student, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK, explains how array tomography is being used to examine correlations between cognitive problems associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and synaptic density and cell loss. The main advantage of array tomography over electron microscopy in this situation is that the synapses can be counted by a machine, rather than having to be manually counted by a researcher. This research has so far shown that patients with no cognitive issues only have degeneration of the motor cortex, whereas patients with cognition issues have degeneration in corresponding areas of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex. This interview took place at the Alzheimer’s Research UK Conference 2022 in Brighton, UK.