Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that has been established as the leading cause of dementia, primarily affecting the elderly population.  One of the best correlates of cognitive decline in AD, is the loss of synapses within the hippocampus.  In addition to this, we also know that neuroinflammation is a prominent feature of AD that is also shared with numerous other neurodegenerative conditions.  As such, we hypothesise that there may be an association between neuroinflammation and the loss of synapses and therefore, for this study we aim to determine if neuroinflammation has an effect on the loss of synapses. To determine if there is an association between neuroinflammation and synaptic loss, we will first aim to establish an in-vivo model of neuroinflammation and subsequently determine if there is a loss of synapses.  To accomplish this, we will be investigating the effect of age and the administration of various pro-inflammatory stimuli such as LPS and poly(I:C) in isolation and in combination, on neuroinflammation and synaptic loss.  We are currently investigating this via the intrahippocampal administration of these various pro-inflammatory stimuli in mice at various ages.  Hippocampal tissue will then be assessed for the presence of neuroinflammation and analysed to determine if there are any changes in synaptic density. We hope that by establishing a model of neuroinflammation with associated synaptic loss, it will contribute to gaining a better understanding of how synapses are lost within the context of AD pathology.