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MEET THE NEUROSCIENCE MAJOR: Meghan Turner, who works in the lab of Dr. Elizabeth Head at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging at UK.

My project in the Head Lab focuses on the role of inflammation in Alzheimer Disease, and how that role may differ in individuals with Down Syndrome. Because several key genes related to Alzheimer Disease are located on the 21st chromosome, Down Syndrome individuals (who have an extra copy of this chromosome) have a much higher risk of developing the disease. Many key inflammatory genes are also found on this chromosome. Using protein biomarkers found in tissue samples from autopsied brains, we hope to contribute to a better understanding of how added inflammation contributes to Alzheimer Disease in Downs Individuals, and how that may differ in sporadic cases.