Recipients
Darrell Mousseau
There is accumulating evidence that clinical depression increases the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Recent published reports also suggest that certain widely prescribed antidepressants may be associated with an increased risk. Dr. Darrell Mousseau was awarded the Saskatchewan Research Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias to study the link between Alzheimer’s disease and depression.
Dr. Mousseau and his team of researchers have found that an enzyme, known for playing an important role in depression, can severely weaken brain cells and perhaps trigger the neurodegenerative processes that lead to Alzheimer’s disease. The team is also looking at the possibility that it is not the depression itself that is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, but rather the treatment of depression that is an unintentional trigger.
Through their program of research, Dr. Mousseau and his team hope to contribute to the development of a marker or molecular target that will allow for earlier and more accurate diagnoses, more effective treatments of Alzheimer-related dementia and/or a means of preventing the onset of the disease. They are currently examining several antibodies and peptides (small proteins) that could be useful in diagnosing the disease at earlier stages.
