Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterised by the accumulation of plaques (amyloid-β) in the brain. In recent years several clinical trials have used vaccination approaches target and remove these plaques to treat AD. These studies have shown varying levels of success, but they did show that the specialised cells of the brain that respond to infection (microglia) are also activated by receiving this treatment.

This research uses brain tissue donated from participants following one of these clinical trials. We aim to look at what differences exist in the brains between the vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Specifically, we will be looking at what genes are changed and how these are regulated (epigenetics). This study will improve our understanding of the mechanisms that are altered during plaque formation and during treatment, leading to more effective treatments in the future.