In this spotlight on early career researchers interview we talk with Andrea del Val, neuropsychologist at the Alzheimer’s disease and other Cognitive Disorders Unit at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (HCB) – Fundació Clínic per la Recerca Biomèdica (FCRB). Her main mission in the ADIS project is to coordinate, plan and recruit participants that meet the study requirements to ensure the project’s successful design.
Could you share your background and how you became interested in the field of psychology and its connection to Alzheimer’s disease research?
When I finished my high school studies, I decided to start a degree in psychology, because I’ve always been interested in human behaviour and the functioning of the brain. During my studies I was fascinated about the relationship between cognition and behaviour, which led to a gradual increase in my interest in neuropsychology.
Later on, I started working in a mental health unit and in a traumatic brain injury clinic. I had the opportunity to work with neurodegenerative diseases and that was the time when I realized that I was really passionate about this field. I wanted to increase my knowledge, so I started working as a neuropsychologist at the Alzheimer’s disease and other Cognitive Disorders Unit at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (HCB) – Fundació Clínic per la Recerca Biomèdica (FCRB).
As a psychologist, how do you contribute to the ADIS project and what specific aspects of sleep disturbances are you investigating?
I’m the study coordinator of the ADIS project at HCB-FCRB in Barcelona (Spain). My mission is to recruit participants that meet the study requirements, explain all procedures and conditions as well as to schedule the different tests (neuropsychological assessments, actigraphy and blood extraction). We collect all data we get from each test and add it to the data base for further analysis.
We are investigating the inflammatory mechanisms that are associated with sleep disturbances in Alzheimer’s disease. Sleep disturbances are one of the main symptoms in the early stages of the disease and have a negative impact on the quality of life of people affected. Nevertheless, the specific neurobiological changes driving these symptoms are not fully understood yet. Prior evidence hints that the dysregulation of the noradrenergic system (areas of the brains controlling the release of a molecule named noradrenaline) and inflammatory processes may have a role.
Our goal is to determine the relationship between sleep disorders, noradrenergic dysfunction and neuroinflammation in participants with Alzheimer’s disease (mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia both due to Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiological changes) through sleep questionnaires and the use of a device called actigraphy. We also will determine if the concentration of noradrenaline is also involved in sleep disturbances.
What are some unique challenges or considerations involved in studying sleep disturbances in the context of Alzheimer’s disease research, and how do you plan to address them?
Prior evidence shows that sleep disturbances can develop even before the offset of memory decline or other cognitive deficits. One of the challenges is to better understand the underlying mechanism of sleep disorders in Alzheimer’s disease, in order to consider it as a novel biomarker for diagnosis and to develop more tailored treatment strategies.
From a psychological perspective, how do you perceive the role of biomarkers in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, and what potential benefits do they offer for people affected and researchers?
From a psychological perspective, I believe that biomarkers, in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, have potential benefits for the people affected as well as their relatives/caregivers. Earlier diagnosis allows the opportunity to make choices or plan for the future. Earlier intervention or treatment can help to manage the symptoms to potentially prevent or delay progression. For researchers, it is optimal to continue investigating the early stages of the disease for all of the reasons described above.
What excites you the most about your work in the ADIS project?
Being part of the ADIS project is very challenging and it’s giving me the opportunity to take part in a European study within a collaborative and multidisciplinary setting. I am looking forward to the results of the project and to gain further insights into the relationship between inflammation, cognition and sleep disorders in Alzheimer’s disease.
In your opinion, what are some of the key challenges and opportunities in the field of psychology and biomarker research for Alzheimer’s disease, and how do you plan to address or leverage them?
Not only cognitive but also neuropsychiatric symptoms such as apathy, depression, anxiety or sleep disturbances are frequent in Alzheimer’s disease, which are the main causes of institutionalisation and patient/caregiver distress. However, despite their negative impact we lack effective diagnostic and treatment strategies to ameliorate them. I therefore believe that an improved understanding of the brain changes which cause these symptoms is needed. This could then inform about better approaches for early diagnosis and targeted treatment.
Spotlight on early career researchers: An interview with Sarah Hücker
