Scientists and researchers across Canada are working on groundbreaking studies that could shape the way neurodegenerative diseases are treated in the future. Here are six fascinating developments we’re following. 

The MIND (Mesoscopic Integrated Neuroimaging Data) Platform

Researchers at Western University in London, Ont., are to thank for the Mesoscopic Integrated Neuroimaging Data (a.k.a. MIND) Platform, which combines Canada’s most powerful MRI scanner with advanced microscopy technology that’s able to capture super-detailed images of the brain with extreme precision at both small (cellular and tissue) and large (whole brain imaging) scales simultaneously. The platform allows scientists to gain more insight into the way neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s progress and will eventually be able to help researchers shed light on how these illnesses can be treated. “For a long time, scientists could either look at the brain at a large scale with MRI or examine tiny pieces of tissue under a microscope – but not easily connect the two. Platforms like MIND bridge that gap. They allow us to see how changes in cells and tissue relate to the larger brain circuits we see in MRI scans. That gives researchers a much more complete picture of how brain diseases actually unfold,” says Dr. Ali Khan, a professor of medical biophysics and Canada Research Chair in Computational Neuroimaging. “As people live longer, diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are becoming more common. To treat them effectively, we need to understand what’s happening in the brain long before symptoms appear. By mapping the brain in much greater detail, researchers can identify the earliest biological changes and the specific brain circuits involved, which can lead to earlier diagnosis and more precise treatments, ultimately improving brain health as we age.” 

Psychomotor Speed

At Dalhousie University in Halifax, scientists are developing a technology that uses speech and movement to measure psychomotor speed – the speed we respond to and process information – which is affected by a plethora of brain disorders. Led by Dr. Rudolf Uher, researchers aim to fast-track the diagnosis of disorders like depression, psychosis, traumatic brain injuries and dementia using this technology. 

Mini-Brains

The hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease are accumulations of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (sticky proteins) in the brain – these are the culprits when it comes to the main symptoms of the disease, including memory loss. Scientists at University of British Columbia were interested in why some healthy people can also have these plaques and tangles but show no signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia. So, Dr. Haakon Nygaard, a professor in Alzheimer’s research and the director of the UBC Hospital Clinic for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders and his team started growing “mini-brains” in petri dishes using a 3D bioprinter to study Alzheimer’s resiliency. His research focuses on why people get dementia – and why some don’t.

tDCS: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation 

This safe, drug-free, non-invasive tool uses gentle electrical currents on the scalp. Scientists at Toronto’s Baycrest Bresver Neuromodulation & Therapeutics Program are studying how this procedure can strengthen speech, memory, concentration and walking in people with dementia. During 30-minute sessions, participants complete brain exercises (think memory and language games) while wearing a cap that delivers the stimulation. The idea is the current strengthens neural pathways and helps neurons communicate and coordinate easier. Participants in early trials have shown improved language, decision-making ability, memory, and better coordination and walking. While initial research has focused on dementia, the program has expanded as a potential treatment for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, which is a rare neurodegenerative disease that affects movement and balance. “The advantages of tDCS are that we can focus on deeper parts of the brain to improve memory and walking; it’s really simple to use; and machines are about $1,000 to $2,000, so it’s feasible for families to purchase them to use daily at home if the treatments are found to be effective,” says Dr. Howard Chertkow, chair in Cognitive Neurology and Innovation, senior scientist and director at Baycrest Academy for Research & Education. 

LLLT: Low-Level Light Therapy

Personalized light therapy is also being studied at Baycrest to help fight Alzheimer’s and dementia. LLLT (also called photobiomodulation or PBM) uses non-invasive near-infrared light through the skin or nose to energize and stimulate brain cells, enhance blood flow (while clearing toxins), reduce inflammation and slow cognitive decline, all while improving brain function. Pending successful clinical trials (which have already shown patients are seeing noticeable improvements in brain health), researchers are aiming to bring a Health Canada-approved at-home device within three years. 

Ovoid Cells

Scientists at the University of British Columbia discovered a new type of brain cell – one that plays a key role in helping us remember and recognize objects. Egg-shaped ovoid cells are neurons in the hippocampus that are activated when we encounter new things, and they are vital when it comes to storing those memories and recognizing them later. The researchers’ findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, has implications for diseases and disorders that affect the memory, like epilepsy, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease – scientists are currently looking at how cells that are either too active or not active enough affect these brain disorders. “It’s our hope that these cells may prove to be a key cellular link to understanding Alzheimer’s disease and potentially offering new avenues to treatment in the long term,” says Dr. Mark Cembrowski, an associate professor in the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences and an investigator at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. “We’ve seen these cells are key for learning and memory and change their activity as the brain becomes aged. Both suggest dysregulation of these cells could help drive aspects of Alzheimer’s. If these cells do underpin aspects of the disease, this may offer new ways to manipulate these cells and potentially offer new routes to treatment.”