School of Infection & Immunity

Dr Andrew Octavian Sasmita 

  • Postdoctoral Researcher (University of Cork)

  • Location: L2 Common Room, Sir Graeme Davies Building

Title:

White matters arising: Rethinking amyloid-β production through the lens of oligodendrocytes and axons

Synopsis:

While Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau tangles, its progression involves more than just neurons. We investigated the role of oligodendrocytes—the myelinating glia of the CNS—in Aβ production and showed that these cells abundantly express the molecular machinery to generate Aβ. Selectively silencing oligodendroglial Aβ production significantly reduces cerebral plaque load especially in the white matter, although to a milder extent compared to silencing neuronal Aβ production. By combining both our oligodendroglial and neuronal data, we further highlighted the non-linear relationship between Aβ production and plaque deposition. Moreover, we revealed a dual role for myelin: While its dysfunction exacerbates plaque pathology, intact myelin also acts as a physical barrier that restricts the release of axonally derived Aβ, shaping plaque distribution. This work establishes that AD is a multi-cellular disorder, and effective interventions will require targeting glial mechanisms alongside neuronal ones.

Bio:

Originally from Indonesia, Andrew obtained their BSc in Medical Biotechnology at the International Medical University, Malaysia. Andrew then completed their MSc thesis on the effects of myelin dysfunction on cerebral amyloidosis in the 5xFAD model of Alzheimer’s disease in Göttingen, Germany. During their PhD at the Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences under the supervision of Prof. Klaus-Armin Nave, Andrew examined the contribution of oligodendrocytes to amyloid and tau pathologies in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease. Currently, Andrew is a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Prof. Yvonne Nolan at the University College Cork, Ireland, investigating if the gut microbiome contributes to mediating sex differences in Alzheimer's disease neuropathology.

First published: 7 January 2026

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