3-D map of amyloid in brain blood vessels in older adults with and without Alzheimer's changes
Project 3: 3-D Molecular Atlas of cerebral amyloid angiopathy in the aging brain with and without co-pathology
Researchers will build a three-dimensional map showing how amyloid in brain blood vessels affects nearby brain cells in older adults with cerebral amyloid angiopathy, with or without Alzheimer’s-related changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180256 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses donated post-mortem brain tissue from older adults who had cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), with and without Alzheimer’s neuropathologic change. Scientists will study three brain regions that show different susceptibility to CAA and measure which cell types and proteins are present near affected blood vessels using molecular and spatial mapping methods. They will combine these measurements into detailed 3-D atlases to capture local and longer-range effects on the neurovascular unit. The team will compare cases of CAA alone versus CAA with increasing Alzheimer’s changes to identify patterns that might explain cognitive decline.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults with diagnosed CAA or Alzheimer's disease, or people willing to enroll in a brain donation program so their tissue can be studied after death.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatments or those without CAA or Alzheimer-related brain changes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this tissue-mapping project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how vessel amyloid harms nearby brain cells and point to new targets to prevent or slow cognitive decline.
How similar studies have performed: Molecular mapping of human post-mortem brains has shown promise in Alzheimer's research, but detailed 3-D atlases focused specifically on CAA are largely novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Jager, Philip L — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: De Jager, Philip L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.