A PET marker to study myelin and brain wiring in aging and Alzheimer’s disease
Official title: A[18F]3F4AP PET measure of myelin/axonal integrity in aging and Alzheimer's disease
Funded at University of Calif-Lawrenc Berkeley Lab · NIH-11442811 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests a new PET tracer to see how myelin health relates to aging and Alzheimer’s disease in people who may be at risk or affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Calif-Lawrenc Berkeley Lab NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $538,456 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG104259-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11442811 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged typically 50+ who are aging or have or are at risk for Alzheimer’s disease with measurable pathology.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without access to MRIs or PET imaging or those not matching the study’s imaging criteria may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use a novel PET tracer, [18F]3F4AP, alongside standard MRI to explore how myelin integrity changes with age and Alzheimer’s pathology. The work aims to map how myelin loss and tau/amyloid buildup interact and how location in the brain matters for disease progression. By understanding these relationships, doctors may better identify early change and track disease over time. The study will enroll adults who are aging and/or show signs of Alzheimer’s-related pathology to gather imaging data and analyze patterns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve early detection and monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease by linking myelin health to disease markers.
How similar studies have gone: Early studies suggest PET tracers can reveal myelin-related changes, but this exact tracer is exploratory in the AD context.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Calif-Lawrenc Berkeley Lab
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baker, Suzanne L — University of Calif-Lawrenc Berkeley Lab
- Study coordinator: Baker, Suzanne L
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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.