The next scientific seminar in the series …where discovery science meets clinical medicine will take place on Thursday, October 30 at 2:30 PM in the Prof. Zdzisław Kieturakis Auditorium at the Invasive Medicine Center, University Clinical Center (UCC).

The invited speakers will be Prof. Wiesław Ziółkowski from the Department of Rehabilitation and Prof. Jarosław Sławek from the Department of Neurology, Neurodegenerative and Neuroimmunological Disorders.

The seminar will focus on the molecular and clinical aspects of neurodegeneration – from cognitive decline in Parkinson’s disease to mitochondrial dysfunction in ALS. The lectures will address unresolved pathogenic mechanisms, potential therapeutic strategies, and the impact of interventions such as swim training on disease progression.

The speakers will present two topics:

• Mitochondria training in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – Prof. Wiesław Ziółkowski, Ph.D. Modifications of MAM structures (formed by mitochondrial membranes and endoplasmic reticulum membranes) influence metabolism, cell signaling, and oxidative stress in skeletal muscle cells. It has been shown that the disruption of MAMs is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, and that their modification can be achieved through swim training. In this presentation, we will demonstrate how therapeutic interventions in water, aimed at improving mitochondrial function, affect skeletal muscle atrophy and lifespan in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
• The mystery of dementia and cognitive decline in Parkinson’s Disease – Prof. Jarosław Sławek, M.D., Ph.D.

Cognitive decline in Parkinson's Disease (PD) seems to be inevitable complication at the advanced stage. The pathogenesis of PD despite the Nobel Prize for Arvid Carlsson concept of dopaminergic dysfunction which resulted in effective levodopa treatment, is still an unresolved problem. The "mystery of dementia in PD" refers to its complex causes, progression and clinical effects, as well as the possible ways of therapeutic interventions.

The seminar will be conducted in English. Following the presentations, attendees are invited to a refreshments – an excellent opportunity to network with researchers interested in future collaboration.

The seminar series was initiated by Dr. Aleksandra Rutkowska from the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, and the host of the event is Prof. Krzysztof Narkiewicz, Head of the Department of Hypertension and Diabetology at the Medical University of Gdańsk.