Mark Johnson, MD, PhD

2024 Accelerator Award Recipient

Interplay Between Genetics and Alcohol Consumption in iNPH.

Dr. Mark Johnson is a Professor and the Maroun Semaan Chair in Neurosurgery at UMass Chan Medical School. His study analyzes the potential causes of iNPH, one of them being alcohol consumption. Mutations in the CWH43 gene results in iNPH phenotypes in mice, such as gait abnormalities. This project will use CWH43 mutant mice to examine whether acute or chronic ethanol exposure promotes iNPH in genetically susceptible individuals. If true, EtOH cessation or abstinence may be useful in treating or preventing iNPH.