Brain glycosphingolipids (a type of brain lipid) and Alzheimer's disease
Brain glycosphingolipids and Alzheimer's disease
This work looks at whether changes in certain brain lipids called glycosphingolipids are linked to Alzheimer's disease and could point to new ways to detect or treat it for people with Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11372416 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part or donate samples, researchers will use new lab methods to measure intact glycosphingolipids (the full sugar-plus-fat molecules) in brain tissue from people with and without Alzheimer's. They will compare the patterns of these lipids to hallmark Alzheimer's changes like amyloid plaques and tau tangles. The team will also make (synthesize) specific glycosphingolipids and test their effects in models to see whether changing these lipids changes disease-related brain changes. The goal is to understand whether altered glycosphingolipids help cause Alzheimer's so future treatments or tests can be developed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, people with mild cognitive impairment, and older adults willing to donate brain tissue or other samples for research would be the ideal candidates to support this work.
Not a fit: This project is basic/mechanistic research, so people seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new biological targets or biomarkers that help detect, slow, or treat Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked lipids to Alzheimer's biology, but using these new methods to measure intact glycosphingolipids and test their causal role is a relatively new and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Tampa, United States
- University of South Florida — Tampa, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Jinying — University of South Florida
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Jinying
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.