Dr Luke Whiley

Dr Luke Whiley AIPS 2024 WA Young Tall Poppy

Book as a Speaker

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, but scientists still don’t know exactly why it occurs. While specific variations in a person’s genetics are known to increase the chance of developing Alzheimer’s, how these genes are connected to disease development remains a mystery.

This lack of knowledge is especially important in genes common in all of us, such as ABCA7. ABCA7 helps to make a protein that moves cholesterol into and out of cells, a process that’s important for cell heath.

However, one in six people carry a variation in ABAC7, which increases their risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 20 per cent. Unfortunately, scientists don’t know why. Before they can identify the factors that link ABCA7 to causes of Alzheimer’s disease, they need to understand the role altered ABCA7 plays in the everyday function of a person’s biology.

Given the opportunity, Dr Whiley aims to do exactly that. His project will generate critical new knowledge of the interaction between altered ABCA7 and human biological function.

This knowledge will lay the groundwork for understanding the biochemical factors that contribute to a person’s risk of ABCA7-associated Alzheimer’s disease before it develops. This will uncover opportunities for researchers to develop medical interventions that may prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease in these people.

2024