Blood-based biomarkers to track dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease
Official title: Blood-based neurodegenerative disease biomarkers, environment, and dementia in Parkinson’s disease progression
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11412921 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests a blood biomarker panel in people with Parkinson’s to see how it relates to cognitive and motor decline and the development of dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $625,622 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS150054-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412921 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, especially those with or at risk for Parkinson’s disease with dementia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with PD but without risk of cognitive decline or those unwilling to provide blood samples may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use a long-running PD cohort to measure blood-based biomarkers and link them to changes in thinking and movement over time. The study builds on decades of data, with repeated clinical visits, biospecimens, and molecular data to understand how dementia develops in PD. The goal is to identify biomarkers that could help predict when someone with PD is at higher risk of dementia and how progression unfolds. Participation would involve ongoing assessments and providing blood samples during follow-up visits. The findings could inform earlier interventions and personalized care for people with Parkinson’s.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better prediction and monitoring of dementia risk in PD, guiding treatment decisions and care planning.
How similar studies have gone: Similar biomarker approaches in ADRD have shown promise for predicting cognitive decline, but integration specifically in PD cohorts is evolving.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Paul, Kimberly — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Paul, Kimberly
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Alpha-synuclein seed test in blood or urine for Parkinson’s and Lewy body diseases
A new blood or urine test using seed amplification to help diagnose Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and related conditions earlier and more clearly.
-
Dorsomedial Striatal Dopamine and Dementia in Parkinson’s Disease
A study in people with Parkinson’s disease will look at brain circuits that affect thinking and memory to understand why dementia develops.
-
Gut microbes, brain inflammation, and dementia in Parkinson’s disease
This project looks at how gut bacteria and their chemicals might influence brain inflammation and dementia in Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.
-
RNA editing and protein inclusions in dementia and Parkinson’s disease
A study in people with or at risk for dementia and Parkinson’s disease will explore how RNA editing and protein clumps in brain cells might drive disease processes and potentially point to new interventions.
-
Molecular protections against oxidation in Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia
A study to understand how Oxr1 helps neurons resist damage in Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia, with potential to guide new treatments.
-
Mechanistic Lipase Regulation to Restore Fatty Acid Balance in Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia
A scientist team is studying how a fat-processing enzyme (LIPE) affects brain lipid balance to develop new ideas for treating Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
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.