Better imaging to measure myelin damage in aging brains
Optimization and validation of quantitative birefringence microscopy for assessment of myelin pathologies associated with cognitive impairments and motor deficits in young and old aging monkey brain
Researchers are improving a high-resolution microscope method to measure myelin damage in aging monkey and human brains to help understand memory and movement problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237159 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is refining quantitative birefringence microscopy (qBRM) so it can map myelin loss across large brain sections. The team will compare qBRM images to gold-standard electron microscopy and other imaging methods to make sure measurements are accurate. Work uses brain tissue from aging rhesus monkeys and available human brain samples to link myelin changes with cognitive and motor decline. The goal is a validated, faster, and scalable imaging approach for whole-brain myelin mapping.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with age-related memory problems, Alzheimer’s disease, or related motor deficits who participate in brain donation programs or tissue banks would be the most directly involved.
Not a fit: This work does not offer immediate treatment, so patients seeking a direct therapy now are unlikely to benefit personally in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give researchers clearer, higher-resolution maps of myelin loss that may speed development of better diagnostics and treatments for age-related cognitive and motor conditions.
How similar studies have performed: High-resolution methods like electron microscopy have confirmed myelin breakdown but are slow and limited in scale, and qBRM is a newer, promising technique that still needs broader validation.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University (Charles River Campus) — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bigio, Irving J. — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Bigio, Irving J.
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.