Blood and skin tests to find Alzheimer and Lewy body changes early
Peripheral Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Mixed Pathologies in AD/ADRD
Using easy-to-get samples like blood and skin to find signs of Alzheimer's, Lewy body disease, or both in people with memory or thinking problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11320767 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would give small, easily collected samples such as blood and a tiny skin biopsy so researchers can look for abnormal tau and alpha-synuclein protein aggregates. Labs will use ultra-sensitive techniques (including RT-QuIC and immunoassays) to try to detect these proteins and compare the results with clinical exams and brain imaging. The team plans to include people with Alzheimer's, Lewy body dementia, other tau-related disorders, and those with unclear diagnoses, and may follow some participants over time. When available, results may also be compared to brain tissue at autopsy to confirm findings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with new or ongoing memory or thinking problems, those diagnosed with Alzheimer disease or Lewy body dementia, or people with an uncertain dementia diagnosis would be the best candidates.
Not a fit: People without cognitive symptoms or whose dementia is clearly caused by non-tau/alpha-synuclein issues (for example, pure vascular dementia) are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could make diagnosis earlier and more accurate using simple blood or skin tests, especially when both Alzheimer and Lewy body pathologies are present.
How similar studies have performed: Early work using RT-QuIC and blood biomarkers has shown promise for detecting tau or alpha-synuclein, but detecting mixed Alzheimer/Lewy body pathologies together is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Shu G. — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Chen, Shu G.
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.