Elli Morgan Anderson
American University and the University of Minnesota, USAPresentation Title:
Striatal Pathology in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an autosomal dominant, fatal neurodegenerative disease, marked by olivopontocerebellar atrophy. Recent findings implicate the striatum as a structure potentially affected in SCA1, due to its significant role in Huntington’s Disease (HD) pathology. Studies reporting similar patterns of tissue instability and gene dysregulation in both diseases suggest that striatal involvement may contribute to SCA1 pathogenesis. The current study uses western blotting and immunofluorescent staining to investigate changes in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) and key marker proteins, including Dopamine- and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein (DARPP-32) and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), in SCA1 mouse models. We hypothesize that striatal pathology is a feature of SCA1, with these marker proteins exhibiting altered expression or localization. Preliminary analyses reveal reduced DARPP-32 and phosphorylated TDP-43 levels, supporting the notion of striatal dysfunction. This supports the idea that the striatum plays a role in SCA1, but further research is needed to fully explore and understand the impact of the disease on striatal tissue. Ongoing work aims to expand this investigation by analyzing gene dysregulation within direct and indirectstriatal pathways, incorporating additional marker proteins.
Biography
Elli Anderson is an undergraduate honors neurosciencestudent at American University in Washington, D.C. She is an aspiring physician-scientist focused on pain research, particularly the biological, psychological, and social mechanisms underlying disparities in pain diagnosis and treatment. At AU, Elli works in Dr. Laurie Bayet’s lab studying early-life perceptual and social processes. She also conducted summer research in Dr. Harry Orr’s lab at the University of Minnesota through the LSSURP program, where she investigated Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 (SCA1) pathology and will be a co-author on a forthcoming paper. Her research interests span cognitive, developmental, and translational neuroscience, with a focus on how pain is represented in the brain and how social factors shape its recognition and treatment. Elli plans to pursue an MD/PhD to integrate neuroscience, public health, and advocacy in addressing persistent pain inequities.
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