Malene Kaasing Thomsen
PhD title: "Cerebral microcirculatory function and brain oxygenation in cognitively normal APOE-ε4 and APOE-ε3 carriers"

Individuals with a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease show reduced oxygen metabolism and altered blood flow in the brain. This is demonstrated in a new PhD project from Aarhus University, providing insights into the early development of the disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta and tau protein in the brain, and individuals carrying the APOE-ε4 gene variant have an increased risk of developing the disease. The PhD project has investigated how cerebral microcirculation and oxygenation differ in older adults without memory problems but with different APOE genotypes. The results point to early changes in brain metabolism and blood flow among APOE-ε4 carriers.

This is a new PhD project from Aarhus University, Health. The project was carried out by Malene Kaasing.

The defense of the PhD project is public and will take place on June 27, 2025, at 14:00 in Auditorium G206-145, Entrance G, G206, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle-Juul Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus.

ALL ARE WELCOME.

After the defense CFIN is hosting a small reception outside the auditorium.

Opponents:

• Senior Consultant and Clinical Professor Astrid Juhl Terkelsen (chair and moderator of the defence) Danish Pain Research Center and Neurology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus Denmark
• Associate Professor and Group Leader Axel Montagne, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
• Associate Professor and SeniorConsultant Kristian Steen Frederiksen, Copenhagen University and Danish Dementia Research Center and Memory Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
   
• Main supervisor: Professor Leif Østergaard, Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University/Aarhus University Hospital

Contact:

For further information, contact PhD student Malene Kaasing
Email: Malenekaasing@cfin.au.dk
Phone: +45 50662442