Behavioral and histological evaluation of an animal model of Down Syndrome

Abstract

Down syndrome (DS) is a chromosomal disorder, considered the most common cause of mental retardation. Characterized by the additional presence of a chromosome 21, individuals with the syndrome, in addition to physical characteristics, are more likely to develop health problems, such as premature aging, which leads to Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and the most common form of dementia associated with age, which can be defined by the presence of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, which are responsible for the deterioration of cognitive functions (language, orientation, attention and memory) and motor functions. The increasing life expectancy for people with DS and the absence of interventions drugs with the capacity to stop or prevent the advance of AD, reinforces the importance of studies of aging in transgenic animals for SD. The objective of this project will be to understand and monitor the molecular changes caused by the aging in SD animal model. For this purpose, behavioral tests will be used with the purpose of evaluating short and long term memories, and immunohistochemistry techniques, will be performed with specific antibodies at different times in the animals' lives. The data obtained will be analyzed, in order to promote the identification of early changes, this way, the study can contribute to the development of new therapeutic interventions in order prevent and / or delay AD. (AU)