{"id":6247,"date":"2026-10-19T09:48:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T09:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phd.hi.is\/doktorsvorn\/doktorsvorn-i-lif-og-laeknavisindum-unnur-dilja-teitsdottir\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T09:48:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T09:48:40","slug":"doktorsvorn-i-lif-og-laeknavisindum-unnur-dilja-teitsdottir","status":"publish","type":"phd_defence","link":"https:\/\/phd.hi.is\/en\/doktorsvorn\/doktorsvorn-i-lif-og-laeknavisindum-unnur-dilja-teitsdottir\/","title":{"rendered":"Doktorsv\u00f6rn \u00ed l\u00edf- og l\u00e6knav\u00edsindum – Unnur Dilj\u00e1 Teitsd\u00f3ttir"},"content":{"rendered":"
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F\u00f6studaginn 4. febr\u00faar ver Unnur Dilj\u00e1 Teitsd\u00f3ttir doktorsritger\u00f0 s\u00edna \u00ed l\u00edf- og l\u00e6knav\u00edsindum vi\u00f0 L\u00e6knadeild H\u00e1sk\u00f3la \u00cdslands. Ritger\u00f0in ber heiti\u00f0: Tengsl l\u00edfv\u00edsa \u00ed heila- og m\u00e6nuv\u00f6kva vi\u00f0 einkennandi meinger\u00f0 Alzheimer-sj\u00fakd\u00f3ms og vitr\u00e6na sker\u00f0ingu. Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in relation to signature Alzheimer\u2019s disease pathology and cognitive functions.<\/p>\n

Andm\u00e6lendur eru dr. Henrik Zetterberg, pr\u00f3fessor vi\u00f0 Gautaborgarh\u00e1sk\u00f3la \u00ed Sv\u00ed\u00fej\u00f3\u00f0, og dr. Hreinn Stef\u00e1nsson, forst\u00f6\u00f0uma\u00f0ur taugasj\u00fakd\u00f3ma hj\u00e1 \u00cdslenskri erf\u00f0agreiningu.<\/p>\n

Umsj\u00f3narkennari og lei\u00f0beinandi var dr. P\u00e9tur Henry Petersen, pr\u00f3fessor vi\u00f0 L\u00e6knadeild. Auk hans s\u00e1tu \u00ed doktorsnefnd J\u00f3n Sn\u00e6dal, yfirl\u00e6knir \u00ed \u00f6ldrunarl\u00e6kningum vi\u00f0 Landsp\u00edtala-h\u00e1sk\u00f3lasj\u00fakrah\u00fas, dr. Kristinn Johnsen, forst\u00f6\u00f0uma\u00f0ur hj\u00e1 Mentis Cura, dr. Sigr\u00fan Helga Lund, t\u00f6lfr\u00e6\u00f0ingur hj\u00e1 \u00cdslenskri erf\u00f0agreiningu, og dr. Taher Darreh-Shori, rannsakandi vi\u00f0 Karolinska Institutet \u00ed Sv\u00ed\u00fej\u00f3\u00f0.<\/p>\n

\u00de\u00f3rarinn Gu\u00f0j\u00f3nsson, pr\u00f3fessor og deildarforseti L\u00e6knadeildar, stj\u00f3rnar ath\u00f6fninni sem fer fram \u00ed H\u00e1t\u00ed\u00f0asal H\u00e1sk\u00f3la \u00cdslands og hefst kl. 13.00. V\u00f6rninni ver\u00f0ur streymt:\u00a0<\/p>\n

https:\/\/livestream.com\/hi\/doktorsvornunnurdiljateitsdottir<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00c1grip<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00c1 undanf\u00f6rnum \u00e1rum hefur aukin \u00e1hersla veri\u00f0 l\u00f6g\u00f0 \u00e1 a\u00f0 skilgreina Alzheimer-sj\u00fakd\u00f3m \u00fat fr\u00e1 l\u00edffr\u00e6\u00f0ilegum m\u00e6likv\u00f6r\u00f0um, \u00fear sem breytingar \u00ed heila hefjast einum til tveimur \u00e1ratugum \u00e1\u00f0ur en kl\u00edn\u00edsk einkenni koma fram. Klass\u00edsk meinger\u00f0 sj\u00fakd\u00f3msins einkennist af amyloid skellum, taugatrefjafl\u00e6kjum og s\u00edvaxandi taugafrumudau\u00f0a \u00ed heilavef. \u00c1kve\u00f0nir l\u00edfv\u00edsar gefa til kynna \u00feessa klass\u00edsku meinger\u00f0, \u00fe.e. m\u00e6lingar \u00e1 magni amyloid beta, fosf\u00f3r\u00fdleru\u00f0u tau og heildar-tau pr\u00f3t\u00edna \u00ed heila- og m\u00e6nuv\u00f6kva. \u00de\u00f3 h\u00e6fni \u00feessara l\u00edfv\u00edsa til greiningar \u00e1 sj\u00fakd\u00f3mnum s\u00e9 \u00e1s\u00e6ttanleg, breytist magn \u00feeirra l\u00edti\u00f0 \u00e1 s\u00ed\u00f0ari stigum og s\u00fdna \u00feeir \u00fear af lei\u00f0andi ekki sterka fylgni vi\u00f0 fram\u00fer\u00f3un vitr\u00e6nnar sker\u00f0ingar. \u00dea\u00f0 er \u00fev\u00ed mikilv\u00e6gt a\u00f0 sko\u00f0a hvort a\u00f0rir l\u00edfv\u00edsar geti betur varpa\u00f0 lj\u00f3si \u00e1 \u00f6nnur l\u00edffr\u00e6\u00f0ileg ferli sem liggja a\u00f0 baki meinger\u00f0ar og kl\u00edn\u00edskra einkenna sj\u00fakd\u00f3msins.<\/p>\n

Markmi\u00f0 doktorsverkefnisins var a\u00f0 rannsaka tengsl tiltekinna l\u00edfv\u00edsa \u00ed heila- og m\u00e6nuv\u00f6kva vi\u00f0 klass\u00edska meinger\u00f0 Alzheimer-sj\u00fakd\u00f3ms og vitr\u00e6na getu me\u00f0al einstaklinga \u00e1 for- e\u00f0a frumstigum heilabilunar. \u00deeir l\u00edfv\u00edsar sem valdir voru endurspegla starfsemi \u00f3n\u00e6miskerfis, k\u00f3lvirka kerfisins og l\u00edp\u00ed\u00f0efnaskipta, en \u00feessi ferli eru talin leika lykilhlutverk \u00ed meinmyndun sj\u00fakd\u00f3msins.<\/p>\n

L\u00edp\u00ed\u00f0i\u00f0 C18 ceramide g\u00e6ti m\u00f6gulega n\u00fdst til greiningar og me\u00f0fer\u00f0ar, \u00fear sem h\u00e6rra magn \u00feess tengdist b\u00e6\u00f0i klass\u00edskri meinger\u00f0 sj\u00fakd\u00f3msins og virkjun \u00e1 \u00f3n\u00e6misvi\u00f0brag\u00f0i. K\u00f3lvirk ens\u00edm er brj\u00f3ta ni\u00f0ur taugabo\u00f0efni\u00f0 Acetylcholine g\u00e6tu hugsanlega n\u00fdst \u00e1 svipa\u00f0an h\u00e1tt, en h\u00e6rri ens\u00edmvirkni fylgdi b\u00e6\u00f0i aukinni taugahr\u00f6rnun og virkjunar \u00e1 \u00f3n\u00e6misvi\u00f0brag\u00f0i. Jafnframt g\u00e6tu pr\u00f3t\u00ednin Neurofilament light (l\u00edfv\u00edsir fyrir hr\u00f6rnun taugas\u00edma) og glial fibrillary acidic protein (l\u00edfv\u00edsir fyrir virkjun stjarnfruma \u00ed heila) veri\u00f0 hentug til m\u00e6lingar \u00e1 framvindu sj\u00fakd\u00f3msins, en h\u00e6rra magn \u00feeirra tengdist vitr\u00e6nni sker\u00f0ingu me\u00f0al einstaklinga sem b\u00e1ru klass\u00edska meinger\u00f0 Alzheimer-sj\u00fakd\u00f3msins.<\/p>\n

Meginni\u00f0urst\u00f6\u00f0ur verkefnisins voru \u00fe\u00e6r a\u00f0 mismunandi l\u00edfv\u00edsar geta m\u00f6gulega betrumb\u00e6tt greiningu Alzheimer-sj\u00fakd\u00f3ms, l\u00fdst betur framvindu sj\u00fakd\u00f3msins og stu\u00f0la\u00f0 a\u00f0 betri \u00e1rangri me\u00f0fer\u00f0ar \u00e1 honum.<\/p>\n

English abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n

The focus has shifted in recent years from clinical towards a biological definition of Alzheimer\u2019s disease (AD), as pathophysiological changes precede the clinical symptoms by decades. In vivo brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers have been at the center of this change. The core biomarkers are amyloid beta, phosphorylated tau and total tau, reflecting signature aspects of AD pathology (A\u03b2 plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and neurodegeneration). Although the diagnostic accuracies of these markers are satisfactory, their levels reach a plateau at later stages of the disease and do not associate well with the progression of cognitive impairment. The discovery of novel biomarkers is therefore of importance for a better understanding of different biological processes driving the pathology and clinical manifestation of the disease.<\/p>\n

The overall objective of the project was to evaluate the relationships of selected CSF biomarkers with signature AD pathology and cognitive functions among individuals at the symptomatic pre- or early stages of dementia. CSF biomarkers of neuroinflammation, the cholinergic system and lipid metabolism were selected, as all processes are thought to play a critical part in the pathogenesis of AD.<\/p>\n

Higher levels of the lipid species C18 ceramide related to AD pathology and inflammatory processes, indicating a potential as a therapeutic target and an additional diagnostic marker. The activity of Acetylcholine-degrading cholinergic enzymes related to inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes and could possibly be utilized in a similar way. Proteins neurofilament light (a biomarker for axonal degeneration) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (a biomarker for astrocyte activation) associated with cognitive decline among individuals with signature AD pathology, indicating that they could be of value as progression biomarkers.<\/p>\n

Overall, the results indicated the potential value of novel CSF biomarkers in improving AD diagnosis, tracking of disease progression and the development of treatments for AD.<\/p>\n

Um doktorsefni\u00f0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unnur Dilj\u00e1 Teitsd\u00f3ttir er f\u00e6dd \u00e1ri\u00f0 1982 \u00ed Reykjav\u00edk. H\u00fan lauk st\u00fadentspr\u00f3fi af n\u00e1tt\u00farufr\u00e6\u00f0ibraut og t\u00f3nlistarbraut fr\u00e1 Menntask\u00f3lanum vi\u00f0 Hamrahl\u00ed\u00f0 \u00e1ri\u00f0 2002, BA-pr\u00f3fi \u00ed s\u00e1lfr\u00e6\u00f0i fr\u00e1 H\u00e1sk\u00f3la \u00cdslands \u00e1ri\u00f0 2007 og meistarapr\u00f3fi \u00ed taugav\u00edsindum fr\u00e1 King\u2019s College \u00ed London \u00e1ri\u00f0 2012. Hluta af doktorsverkefninu vann h\u00fan \u00e1 ranns\u00f3knarstofu vi\u00f0 Karolinska Institutet \u00ed Stokkh\u00f3lmi. Unnur starfa\u00f0i um skei\u00f0 hj\u00e1 H\u00e1sk\u00f3la \u00cdslands, fyrst sem stundakennari vi\u00f0 S\u00e1lfr\u00e6\u00f0ideild og s\u00ed\u00f0ar hj\u00e1 T\u00f6lfr\u00e6\u00f0ir\u00e1\u00f0gj\u00f6f Heilbrig\u00f0isv\u00edsindasvi\u00f0s. Foreldrar hennar eru \u00de\u00f3runn Halla Gu\u00f0laugsd\u00f3ttir menntunarfr\u00e6\u00f0ingur og Teitur Arnlaugsson l\u00edffr\u00e6\u00f0ingur.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":5066,"template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_phd_date_start":"2022-02-04T13:00:00+00:00","_phd_date_end":"2022-02-04T16:00:00+00:00","_phd_location":"A\u00f0albygging H\u00e1t\u00ed\u00f0asalur","_phd_admission":"A\u00f0gangur \u00f3keypis","_phd_thesis_title":"Tengsl l\u00edfv\u00edsa \u00ed heila- og m\u00e6nuv\u00f6kva vi\u00f0 einkennandi meinger\u00f0 Alzheimer-sj\u00fakd\u00f3ms og vitr\u00e6na sker\u00f0ingu. 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