The lynx1 gene and Alzheimer's Disease: A Potential Neuroprotective Mechanism

Abstract The sociological impact of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), places a heavy burden on the healthcare industry, patients and families, not only from a medical and financial impact, but also in terms of quality of life. The consequences to the patient, family and caregivers can be life-changing, yet quantitative studies have been sparse. Our understanding of ways to improve cognition in these patients would be highly beneficial. One such potential tool to improve cognition in these patients, the lynx1 gene, has been identified. The purpose of this project is to compare the effects of the lynx1 gene on Alzheimer's development in different genetic variant mice (wildtype, knockout, and heterozygous genotypes).To do this, mice underwent fear conditioned learning via the Chronic Social Defeat Stress (CSDS) paradigm. Based on the results from these behavioral tests, as well as predicted data for planned experiments, I believe that an introductory case for further studies of the relationship between the lynx1 gene and AD has been shown.