Wirths, Oliver, Prof. Dr.


  • 1994 - 1999 Diploma in Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
  • 1999 - 2003 Ph.D. at University of Bonn and Catholic University Leuven
  • 2003 - 2004 Post-Doctoral fellow at Saarland University, Homburg
  • 2004 - 2006 Research Assistant at Saarland University, Homburg
  • Since 2006 Laboratory head and project leader at the Molecular Psychiatry lab, University Medical Center Göttingen
  • 2012 Habilitation (Venia legendi) in Molecular Neurosciences, University Medical Center Göttingen
  • Since 2017 Apl. Professorship, University Medical Center Göttingen



Major Research Interests

We are interested in the molecular mechanisms that are the basis for neurodegenerative disorders, in particular Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We employ a variety of neuropathological, molecular biology and biochemical methods. We further use mouse models of AD to investigate the relationship between learning- and memory deficits and associated pathological alterations in the brain.

Current projects include


  • The role of physical activity in the development of Alzheimer’s disease
  • Role of N-terminal truncated Abeta peptides in Alzheimer’s disease
  • Role of signal transduction cascades in inflammatory processes in Alzheimer’s disease


  • Homepage Department/Research Group

    https://psychiatrie.umg.eu/forschung/arbeitsgruppen/molekulare-mechanismen-der-neurodegeneration/?sword_list%5B0%5D=oliver&sword_list%5B1%5D=wirths&cHash=5fbb5556efefc454aa39a608f372b342

    https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Oliver_Wirths


    Selected Recent Publications


    • Stazi M., Lehmann S., Sakib M.S., Pena-Centeno T., Büschgens L., Fischer A., Weggen S., Wirths O. (2022) Long-term caffeine treatment of Alzheimer mouse models ameliorates behavioural deficits and neuron loss and promotes cellular and molecular markers of neurogenesis. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 79(1): 55

    • Kettwig M., Ternka K., Wendland K., Krüger D.M., Zampar S., Schob C., Winkler A., Aich A., Sakib M.S., Kaurani L., Epple R., Werner H.B., Hakroush S., Kitz J., Prinz M., Bartok E., Hartmann G., Schröder S., Rehling P., Henneke S., Boretius S., Alia A., Wirths O., Fischer A., Stadelmann C., Nessler S., Gärtner J. (2021) Interferon-driven brain phenotype in a mouse model of RNAseT2 deficient leucoencephalopathy. Nature Communications, 12: 6530

    • Aichholzer F., Klafki H.W., Ogorek I., Vogelgsang J., Wiltfang J., Scherbaum N., Weggen S., Wirths O. (2021) Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid glycoprotein NMB (GPNMB) as a potential biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, 13: 94

    • Zampar S., Klafki H.W., Sritharen K, Bayer T.A., Wiltfang J., Rostagno A., Ghiso J., Miles L.A., Wirths O. (2020) N-terminal heterogeneity of parenchymal and vascular amyloid-beta deposits in Alzheimer’s disease. Neuropathology Applied Neurobiology, 46(7): 673-685

    • Walter S., Jumpertz T., Hüttenrauch M., Ogorek I., Gerber H., Storck S.E., Zampar S., Dimitrov M., Lehmann S., Lepka C., Berndt C., Wiltfang J., Becker-Pauly C., Beher D., Pietrzik C.U., Fraering P., Wirths O.*. and Weggen S*. (2019) The metalloprotease ADAMTS4 generates N-truncated Aβ4-x peptides and marks oligodendrocytes as a pro-amyloidogenic cell lineage in Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Neuropathologica, 137(2): 239-257 (*corresponding authors)

    • Hüttenrauch M., Ogorek I., Klafki H.W., Otto M., Stadelmann-Nessler C., Weggen S., Wiltfang J. Wirths O. (2018) Glycoprotein NMB: a novel Alzheimer’s disease associated marker expressed in a subset of activated microglia. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 6(1):108

    • Wirths O., Walter S., Kraus I., Klafki H.W., Oberstein T., Ghiso J., Wiltfang J., Bayer T.A., Weggen S. (2017) N-truncated Aβ4-x peptides in sporadic Alzheimer's disease cases and transgenic Alzheimer mouse models. Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, 9: 80