Michela Gallagher

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Michela Gallagher
Michela Gallagher at Cognitive Aging Summit.jpg
Gallagher speaks to the National Institute on Aging in 2017
Alma mater University College London, Colgate University, University of Vermont
AwardsMika Salpeter Lifetime Achievement Award
Scientific career
Institutions University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Johns Hopkins University, AgeneBio
Thesis The effects of norepinephrine manipulations in the amygdala on time-dependent memory processes  (1977)

Michela Gallagher is an American cognitive psychologist and neuroscientist. She is the Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University. Her scientific work has changed the model of neurocognitive aging, and developed new indices for its study. Previously, work had focused on neurodegeneration as a primary cause of memory loss.

Contents

Gallagher's research suggests that age-related declines in cognition may also occur in the absence of neurodegeneration, due to malfunctioning rather than dying off. Gallagher is also the founder and CEO of AgeneBio, a company which aims to develop a cure for Alzheimer's disease.

Education and career

Gallagher did her first degree at University College London, where she majored in fine art. She transferred to Colgate University in New York in her last year. [1] She graduated from Colgate University in 1969, in its first class to include women. [1] [2] She was among the first two women at Colgate to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree, and she was the first woman to go on to receive her doctorate. [1]

Her interest in the visual arts sparked her interest in the visual system and neuroscience, and she also became interested in memory. [1] Gallagher went on to the University of Vermont, [1] graduating with a PhD in neuroscience in 1977. Her thesis was titled The effects of norepinephrine manipulations in the amygdala on time-dependent memory processes. [2] [3]

Gallagher then worked at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, where she was the Kenan Professor of Psychology. She joined Johns Hopkins University in 1997. [2] [4] [5] She became the chair of the Department of Psychological and Brain Science at Johns Hopkins in 2000, holding the position until 2007. [2] [6] [7] She became the Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience in 2003. [8] She became Vice Provost of Academic Affairs in 2008, [9] holding the appointment for four years. [2] She also leads the Neurogenetics and Behavior Center, located at Johns Hopkins University. [10]

Gallagher was the editor-in-chief of Behavioral Neuroscience from 1995 to 2001. [6] She is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), [5] and a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), [11] the Association for Psychological Science, and the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) [12] among others. She founded AgeneBio in 2008, which focuses on finding new treatments for Alzheimer's disease. [2]

Research

Gallagher studies age-related changes in the brain. Her scientific work has changed the model of neurocognitive aging. [13] Beginning in the 1950s, work had focused on neurodegeneration as a primary cause of memory loss. Gallagher's research suggests that brain cells are malfunctioning rather than just dying off. This has led researchers to investigate a wide range of neural mechanisms and different possible interventions. [6] [13]

"This is terrific, because if neurodegeneration is not a primary cause of the impairment that we see in the elderly, and if we don't have to find ways to replace missing nerve cells [through] nerve cell transplants and so forth, then the challenge of maximizing the potential of the elderly suddenly becomes much more tractable". – Michela Gallagher, 2001 [6]

Over a number of years, Gallagher has developed a model for the controlled study of natural aging and age-related memory loss, using Long-Evans rats. The rats are bred to age well, and Gallagher studies them over their entire lifetime. During that time, they are carefully looked after, and protected from exposure to germs and viruses. Measures of the rats' memory and cognition abilities have been developed for use in water mazes. [6]

With Rebecca Burwell and Margaret Burchinal (1993), Gallagher developed new measures of spatial learning for use with the Morris water navigation task (often referred to as the Morris water maze). [14] [15] These included "the cumulative search error during learning trials, the average proximity during probe trials, and the spatial learning index to quantify overall learning of the task across days." [14] [16] The impact of these measures in the field is significant. [14] Researchers reference measures such as "Gallagher’s proximity-index" [17] and the "Gallagher-Baker indices". [18]

One of Gallagher's fields of study is hyperactivity in the hippocampus, [19] [20] which occurs in patients with Alzheimer's disease, and may cause amnestic mild cognitive impairment. [21] [22] She found that aging rats with hyperactivity in the hippocampus caused difficulties in completing a memory task. [23] [24] Giving these rats levetiracetam reduced these impairments. [21]

Gallagher started the company AgeneBio, which studies treatments for mild cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease. [10] [25] One of the therapeutics the company researches is AGB-101, a form of levetiracetam, which targets neuronal hyperactivity in the hippocampus. [10] [26] [27] This drug was developed for use in epilepsy. [28] [29] For this work Gallagher received the Melvin R. Goodes Prize for Excellence in Alzheimer's Drug Discovery from the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation. [10] In addition, the company is studying a drug called GABA-A a5 PAM, which also targets hyperactivity in the hippocampus. [30] [31] In 2019 the company received a $3.4m grant for this work. [30]

Honors

Selected publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Entorhinal cortex</span> Area of the temporal lobe of the brain

The entorhinal cortex (EC) is an area of the brain's allocortex, located in the medial temporal lobe, whose functions include being a widespread network hub for memory, navigation, and the perception of time. The EC is the main interface between the hippocampus and neocortex. The EC-hippocampus system plays an important role in declarative (autobiographical/episodic/semantic) memories and in particular spatial memories including memory formation, memory consolidation, and memory optimization in sleep. The EC is also responsible for the pre-processing (familiarity) of the input signals in the reflex nictitating membrane response of classical trace conditioning; the association of impulses from the eye and the ear occurs in the entorhinal cortex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hippocampus</span> Vertebrate brain region involved in memory consolidation

The hippocampus is a major component of the brain of humans and other vertebrates. Humans and other mammals have two hippocampi, one in each side of the brain. The hippocampus is part of the limbic system, and plays important roles in the consolidation of information from short-term memory to long-term memory, and in spatial memory that enables navigation. The hippocampus is located in the allocortex, with neural projections into the neocortex, in humans as well as other primates. The hippocampus, as the medial pallium, is a structure found in all vertebrates. In humans, it contains two main interlocking parts: the hippocampus proper, and the dentate gyrus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limbic system</span> Set of brain structures involved in emotion and motivation

The limbic system, also known as the paleomammalian cortex, is a set of brain structures located on both sides of the thalamus, immediately beneath the medial temporal lobe of the cerebrum primarily in the forebrain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-term potentiation</span> Persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity

In neuroscience, long-term potentiation (LTP) is a persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity. These are patterns of synaptic activity that produce a long-lasting increase in signal transmission between two neurons. The opposite of LTP is long-term depression, which produces a long-lasting decrease in synaptic strength.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dentate gyrus</span> Region of the hippocampus in the brain

The dentate gyrus (DG) is part of the hippocampal formation in the temporal lobe of the brain, which also includes the hippocampus and the subiculum. The dentate gyrus is part of the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit and is thought to contribute to the formation of new episodic memories, the spontaneous exploration of novel environments and other functions.

An engram is a unit of cognitive information imprinted in a physical substance, theorized to be the means by which memories are stored as biophysical or biochemical changes in the brain or other biological tissue, in response to external stimuli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adult neurogenesis</span> Generating of neurons from neural stem cells in adults

Adult neurogenesis is the process in which neurons are generated from neural stem cells in the adult. This process differs from prenatal neurogenesis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spatial memory</span> Memory about ones environment and spatial orientation

In cognitive psychology and neuroscience, spatial memory is a form of memory responsible for the recording and recovery of information needed to plan a course to a location and to recall the location of an object or the occurrence of an event. Spatial memory is necessary for orientation in space. Spatial memory can also be divided into egocentric and allocentric spatial memory. A person's spatial memory is required to navigate around a familiar city. A rat's spatial memory is needed to learn the location of food at the end of a maze. In both humans and animals, spatial memories are summarized as a cognitive map.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morris water navigation task</span> Task used in experiments to measure spatial learning and memory

The Morris water navigation task, also known as the Morris water maze, is a behavioral procedure mostly used with rodents. It is widely used in behavioral neuroscience to study spatial learning and memory. It enables learning, memory, and spatial working to be studied with great accuracy, and can also be used to assess damage to particular cortical regions of the brain. It is used by neuroscientists to measure the effect of neurocognitive disorders on spatial learning and possible neural treatments, to test the effect of lesions to the brain in areas concerned with memory, and to study how age influences cognitive function and spatial learning. The task is also used as a tool to study drug-abuse, neural systems, neurotransmitters, and brain development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Place cell</span> Place-activated hippocampus cells found in some mammals

A place cell is a kind of pyramidal neuron in the hippocampus that becomes active when an animal enters a particular place in its environment, which is known as the place field. Place cells are thought to act collectively as a cognitive representation of a specific location in space, known as a cognitive map. Place cells work with other types of neurons in the hippocampus and surrounding regions to perform this kind of spatial processing. They have been found in a variety of animals, including rodents, bats, monkeys and humans.

Explicit memory is one of the two main types of long-term human memory, the other of which is implicit memory. Explicit memory is the conscious, intentional recollection of factual information, previous experiences, and concepts. This type of memory is dependent upon three processes: acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleep and memory</span> Relationship between sleep and memory

The relationship between sleep and memory has been studied since at least the early 19th century. Memory, the cognitive process of storing and retrieving past experiences, learning and recognition, is a product of brain plasticity, the structural changes within synapses that create associations between stimuli. Stimuli are encoded within milliseconds; however, the long-term maintenance of memories can take additional minutes, days, or even years to fully consolidate and become a stable memory that is accessible. Therefore, the formation of a specific memory occurs rapidly, but the evolution of a memory is often an ongoing process.

A hippocampus prosthesis is a type of cognitive prosthesis. Prosthetic devices replace normal function of a damaged body part; this can be simply a structural replacement or a rudimentary, functional replacement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memory improvement</span> Act of improving ones memory

Memory improvement is the act of enhancing one's memory. Research on improving memory is driven by amnesia, age-related memory loss, and people’s desire to enhance their memory. Research involved in memory improvement has also worked to determine what factors influence memory and cognition. There are many different techniques to improve memory some of which include cognitive training, psychopharmacology, diet, stress management, and exercise. Each technique can improve memory in different ways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carol A. Barnes</span> American neuroscientist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methylazoxymethanol acetate</span> Chemical compound

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Hippocampal replay is a phenomenon observed in rats, mice, cats, rabbits, songbirds and monkeys. During sleep or awake rest, replay refers to the re-occurrence of a sequence of cell activations that also occurred during activity, but the replay has a much faster time scale. It may be in the same order, or in reverse. Cases were also found where a sequence of activations occurs before the actual activity, but it is still the same sequence. This is called preplay.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Mayne, Aleta (1 November 2019). "She's the One". Colgate Magazine. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Honorary Degree Recipient: Michela Gallagher". University of Vermont. 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  3. ↑ "UVM Theses and Dissertations | Howe Library". University of Vermont Libraries. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  4. ↑ "CHAIRS and PANELISTS". Reserve and Resilience. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  5. 1 2 Homewood, Emil Venere (9 June 1997). "Gallagher Ably Filling Olton's Shoes". The Gazette. 26 (37). The Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Purdy, Michael (2001). "Gray Matters". Johns Hopkins Magazine. 53 (3). Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  7. ↑ "Krieger-Eisenhower Professorships". Johns Hopkins University. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  8. ↑ "Five Profs Named to Krieger-Eisenhower Chairs". The Gazette. Vol. 32, no. 38. The Johns Hopkins University. 23 June 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  9. ↑ "Periodic Review Report presented by Johns Hopkins University Ronald J. Daniels, President presented to Middle States Commission on Higher Education June 1, 2009" (PDF). The Johns Hopkins University. 1 June 2009. p. 4. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dr. Michela Gallagher Wins Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation's Prestigious Goodes Prize | Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation". Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  11. ↑ Packard, Erika (2007). "A Closer Look The biology of behavior". Monitor on Psychology. 38 (7): 86. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  12. 1 2 Reeves, Tracey (17 November 2014). "Johns Hopkins neuroscientist Michela Gallagher to receive Lifetime Achievement Award". The Hub. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  13. 1 2 "Michela Gallagher, PhD,Johns Hopkins University, PLENARY PRESENTATION" (PDF). 10th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery, 14–15 September 2009, Jersey City, New Jersey. 2009. p. 13. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 Tomás Pereira, Inês; Burwell, Rebecca D. (August 2015). "Using the spatial learning index to evaluate performance on the water maze". Behavioral Neuroscience. 129 (4): 533–539. doi: 10.1037/bne0000078 . PMC   5077721 . PMID   26214218.
  15. ↑ Gallagher, Michela; Burwell, Rebecca; Burchinal, Margaret R. (1993). "Severity of spatial learning impairment in aging: Development of a learning index for performance in the Morris water maze". Behavioral Neuroscience. 107 (4): 618–626. doi:10.1037/0735-7044.107.4.618. PMC   5640430 . PMID   26214219.
  16. ↑ Foreman, Nigel; Gillett, Raphael, eds. (1997). Handbook of spatial research. Paradigms and methodologies. Psychology Press. p. 150. ISBN   9781138877269.
  17. ↑ Bimonte-Nelson, Heather A. (2015). The maze book : theories, practice, and protocols for testing rodent cognition. New York Heidelberg Dordrecht London: Springer. p. 80. ISBN   978-1-4939-2158-4.
  18. ↑ "What are the Gallagher-Baker indices in Water Maze?". HVS Image. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  19. ↑ "Reducing brain activity improves memory after cognitive decline". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  20. ↑ Stern, Robert A.; Alosco, Michael L., eds. (7 May 2019). The Oxford handbook of adult cognitive disorders. Oxford University Press. pp. 7–10. ISBN   9780190664145 . Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  21. 1 2 Setti, Sharay E.; Hunsberger, Holly C.; Reed, Miranda N. (December 2017). "Alterations in hippocampal activity and Alzheimer's disease". Translational Issues in Psychological Science. 3 (4): 348–356. doi:10.1037/tps0000124. PMC   5972837 . PMID   29862310.
  22. ↑ Stargardt, Anita; Swaab, Dick F.; Bossers, Koen (1 January 2015). "The storm before the quiet: neuronal hyperactivity and Aβ in the presymptomatic stages of Alzheimer's disease". Neurobiology of Aging. 36 (1): 1–11. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.08.014. ISSN   0197-4580. PMID   25444609. S2CID   207161688.
  23. ↑ McGarrity, Stephanie; Mason, Rob; Fone, Kevin C.; Pezze, Marie; Bast, Tobias (22 August 2016). "Hippocampal Neural Disinhibition Causes Attentional and Memory Deficits". Cerebral Cortex. 27 (9): 4447–4462. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhw247 . PMID   27550864.
  24. ↑ Koh, Ming Teng; Haberman, Rebecca P.; Foti, Stacey; McCown, Thomas J.; Gallagher, Michela (2010). "Treatment strategies targeting excess hippocampal activity benefit aged rats with cognitive impairment". Neuropsychopharmacology. 35 (4): 1016–1025. doi:10.1038/npp.2009.207. ISSN   1740-634X. PMC   2820138 . PMID   20032967.
  25. ↑ Aguirre, Lauren. "The Role of Seizures in Alzheimer's Disease Is Gaining Overdue Attention". Scientific American. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  26. ↑ "More Evidence That Epilepsy Drug Calms Neurons and Boosts Memory | ALZFORUM". www.alzforum.org. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  27. ↑ Bakker, Arnold; Krauss, Gregory L.; Albert, Marilyn S.; Speck, Caroline L.; Jones, Lauren R.; Stark, Craig E.; Yassa, Michael A.; Bassett, Susan S.; Shelton, Amy L.; Gallagher, Michela (10 May 2012). "Reduction of hippocampal hyperactivity improves cognition in amnestic mild cognitive impairment". Neuron. 74 (3): 467–474. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2012.03.023. ISSN   0896-6273. PMC   3351697 . PMID   22578498.
  28. ↑ "Phase 3 Trial of AGB101 Targets Hippocampal Hyperactivity to Slow Progression of MCI". Neurology Live. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  29. ↑ Babcock, Stephen (17 September 2015). "This JHU startup is working on a treatment to prevent Alzheimer's". Technical.ly Baltimore. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  30. 1 2 Babcock, Stephen (13 September 2019). "AgeneBio receives $3.4M for development of Alzheimer's treatment". Technical.ly Baltimore. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  31. ↑ "AgeneBio Announces Additional Funding to Advance Novel GABA-A Therapeutic Program to Address Alzheimer's and Other CNS Conditions". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  32. 1 2 Klein, Stephen B. (2014). Learning : principles and applications (7thition ed.). SAGE Publications. pp. 63–64. ISBN   978-1452271941 . Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  33. ↑ "Awards | Pavlovian Society" . Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  34. ↑ "T.J. Oshie and Dr. Michela Gallagher Honored at Ninth Annual Great Ladies Luncheon". markets.businessinsider.com. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
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