Dr. Leila Allen, a neuroscientist studying molecular and behavioral changes related to dementia, shared her journey and research at TEDxMiami.
Her fascination with the brain began during her college years, leading her to focus on identifying memory disturbances caused by drugs and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.
Over two years ago, Dr. Allen’s father passed away just six months after being diagnosed with probable frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
However, he had exhibited symptoms for at least five years. Reflecting on this, Dr. Allen acknowledged that she had missed the signs—even with her expertise.
Doctors initially dismissed his unusual yelling, angry outbursts, and combative behavior as potential drug or alcohol abuse.
It wasn’t until he violently shoved her husband to the ground, unprovoked, that the seriousness of his condition became apparent.
The Challenges of Diagnosing Dementia
After months of neuropsychiatric evaluations and imaging studies, Dr. Allen’s father received a probable diagnosis: behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia.
The term “probable” is used because most forms of dementia can only be definitively diagnosed by analyzing the brain postmortem.
Due to his religious and cultural customs, Dr. Allen’s father’s brain was not analyzed after death, leaving his diagnosis unconfirmed. This uncertainty continues to trouble her.
Understanding FTD and Alzheimer’s
Although FTD and Alzheimer’s both affect the brain, they target different areas, resulting in distinct symptoms:
- Alzheimer’s disease: Primarily characterized by memory loss.
- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD): Memory is often spared, but extreme changes in personality, executive function, and language abilities are common.
FTD was first identified 130 years ago, with Alzheimer’s following 118 years ago.
Despite this long history, effective treatments and straightforward diagnostic methods remain elusive.
Alarmingly, brain changes related to these diseases can begin 10 to 20 years before noticeable symptoms emerge.
The Need for Better Research Models
To understand and combat dementia, scientists rely on animal models.
Traditionally, rodents, especially mice, have been the preferred choice due to their mapped genome. However, mice have limitations:
- They don’t naturally develop many human diseases, including dementia.
- Their physiology differs significantly from humans, leading to poor translation of research findings to human treatments.
Enter the Pig Model
At Florida International University (FIU), in collaboration with the National Swine Resource and Research Center at the University of Missouri, Dr. Allen and her team developed the nation’s first pig model of Alzheimer’s disease.
Pigs are excellent research models due to their many similarities to humans, including:
- Social behavior and diet.
- Metabolic, renal, cardiovascular, lung, and skin systems.
Despite these advantages, pigs remain underutilized in neuroscience research.
How Pigs Are Advancing Dementia Research
Superior Cognitive Abilities
Pigs are not only adorable but also incredibly intelligent. Dr. Allen’s research demonstrated their cognitive abilities through behavioral tasks designed for both rodents and humans.
In some cases, pigs even outperformed humans.
For example, in a classic maze paradigm:
- Pigs remembered tasks 10 times longer than mice.
- This enhanced memory allowed researchers to detect subtle behavioral changes earlier in disease progression.
Advanced AI Integration
The team also used AI tracking software to analyze the pigs’ movements in the maze. This technology helped:
- Detect movement trajectories.
- Predict behavioral patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed.
By identifying these patterns, the researchers aim to develop methods for detecting behavioral changes earlier in disease progression.
The Future of Dementia Detection
Early detection is critical for improving quality of life. Imagine having a non-invasive, inexpensive test incorporated into annual physicals to detect brain changes early. Potential methods include:
- Retinal scans to spot Alzheimer’s plaques in the eyes.
- Blood-based biomarkers.
- Tests for sensory changes, such as hearing loss or issues with the sense of smell.
Such advancements could revolutionize how dementia is diagnosed and treated.
Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Risk
Proactive steps can also help lower the risk of dementia:
- Reduce alcohol consumption.
- Exercise regularly.
- Establish good sleep hygiene.
- Eat a diet rich in anti-inflammatories and antioxidants.
- Address health issues like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
A Mission to Educate and Inspire
Dr. Allen reflected on her own experience, expressing a wish that she had been more realistic about her father’s symptoms.
She noted how easy it is to dismiss or explain away the behaviors of loved ones, but emphasized that denial does not help.
Her mission is to:
- Educate the public about dementia.
- Highlight challenges in diagnostic and research pipelines.
- Advocate for better funding and research.
Joining the Fight Against Dementia
Dr. Allen believes everyone can play a role in combating dementia through education, activism, or simply paying closer attention to aging loved ones.
With collective effort, she envisions a future where early detection and effective treatments become the norm.
Dr. Allen concluded her talk by expressing hope for the future, inspired by her students and the advancements in dementia research.
Together, she believes society can create a brighter future in the fight against these devastating diseases.
Source: TEDx Talks
