Watson/Yassi Lab

The SIMOA-HDX technology is a highly sensitive and automated biomarker platform which allows for the detection of proteins associated with dementia pathology in blood and other body fluids (e.g. spinal fluid). The detection of blood biomarkers such as neurofilament light chain, amyloid-ß and tau represents a major potential advance in the field of dementia, opening up the possibility of a blood test for dementia diagnosis. The SIMOA platform is also available for research collaborations in other neurological and non-neurological diseases.

Learn more about the SIMOA HD-X Service

Team members:
Lucy Bradbury, SIMOA scientist
Associate Professor Nawaf Yassi
Associate Professor Rosie Watson – Lesley Vidaurre

S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) is a natural compound which plays a key role in the homocysteine cycle. It is also a key substrate for multiple biochemical methylation pathways, including DNA methylation and methylation of PP2a, the primary tau phosphatase enzyme. Reduced methylation of PP2a has been shown to be associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease pathology (particularly p-tau), and SAMe has been shown to attenuate this process in preclinical models. We are conducting a phase 2 trial using oral SAMe in patients will mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease to investigate its effect on levels of p-tau in the disorder. SAMe could represent a simple, cheap and safe intervention for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies.

Team members:
Assoc Prof Nawaf Yassi
Assoc Prof Rosie Watson
Lesley Vidaurre
Dr Sarah Holper
Dr Paula Loveland
Dr Oneil Bhalala
Dr Jenny Yu

Dementia diagnosis is challenging. In Australia, the average time taken from the beginning of symptoms to a diagnosis of dementia is over 3 years, and this is longer in people living in regional or rural areas, or people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Even when a diagnosis is made, there are cases where the diagnosis may be inaccurate due to overlap of clinical symptoms between different dementias, and due to a number of other medical and psychological conditions that can mimic dementia.

Brain scans and spinal fluid analysis can help improve diagnosis but are costly, limited in terms of access, and invasive in some cases. The possibility of a blood test supporting dementia diagnosis would revolutionise diagnosis and care for patients with or at risk of the condition.

In this study, we are implementing a blood-based diagnostic test for patients being assessed for dementia at the Royal Melbourne Hospital Cognitive, Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS) Clinic. We will investigate the diagnostic accuracy of these blood tests, and their impact on clinician diagnostic confidence.