Brain chemical patterns linked to Alzheimer's and related dementias
Identification of brain metabolomic profiles associated with dementia
This project looks for patterns in brain chemicals from people with and without dementia to reveal pathways connected to Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11299548 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, researchers will measure many small molecules (metabolites) in donated postmortem brain tissue from about 1,200 people who had clinical and neuropathologic exams. They will combine those metabolite profiles with clinical histories and genetic data to find biochemical pathways tied to cognitive decline. The team will emphasize complex lipids, fatty acids, inflammation-related lipids, gut-microbiome–related neurochemicals, and glucose/bioenergetic metabolites. Results are meant to point to brain-specific metabolic changes that could become targets for prevention or new treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults (or their families) who agree to enroll in cohort studies or brain-donation programs, including people with Alzheimer's, other dementias, or normal cognitive aging who consent to postmortem tissue donation.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatments or those who do not participate in brain-donation or cohort programs are unlikely to receive direct, personal benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new biological targets in the brain that lead to better ways to prevent or treat Alzheimer's and related dementias.
How similar studies have performed: Early, smaller postmortem metabolomic studies have reported differences linked to Alzheimer's, but they were limited by sample size and replication, so this larger effort aims to confirm and extend those findings.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Jun — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Li, Jun
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.