Publication Date
2020
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
First Advisor
Wallace, Douglas G.
Degree Name
Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
Legacy Department
Department of Psychology
Abstract
Dementia of the Alzheimer’s type is the most common form of dementia, affecting millions of people worldwide. Specific genetic mutations increase Alzheimer’s disease-related neuropathology and cognitive impairments. Deficits are observed in spatial orientation throughout the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, including wandering behavior or becoming lost in a familiar environment. Dementia of the Alzheimer’s type patients also exhibit disruptions in radial optic flow, which underlies self-movement cue processing. Currently, no treatments exist for Alzheimer’s disease. Genetic mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease have been developed to investigate the disease onset and progression and, further, to evaluate potential therapies and behavioral assessments. As of yet, no studies have used a detailed analysis to examine spatial orientation in genetic mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. The current set of studies examined the use of different sources of information to maintain spatial orientation in a genetic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease throughout development. Persistent deficits were observed in self-movement cue processing across development, whereas compensation was observed when access was provided to environmental cues. This is the earliest deficit reported in spatial orientation in TgCRND8 mice, as well as the first document of impaired self-movement cue processing. The results of this work establish a new behavioral tool to characterize spatial orientation deficits associated with genetic mouse models, which may accelerate future assessments of novel therapeutic interventions for neurological disorders.
Recommended Citation
Blackwell, Ashley Andrea, "Hippocampal Cholinergic Function and Exploratory Behavior Throughout Development in a Genetic Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease" (2020). Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations. 6865.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allgraduate-thesesdissertations/6865
Extent
137 pages
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Rights Statement 2
NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.
Media Type
Text
