Brains aging and Alzheimer’s disease: a multi-scale MRI and biology study
Official title: Multiscale Modeling of Brain Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease with MRI, Pathology and Proteomics
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11537708 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will combine advanced diffusion MRI and biological data to better understand how aging relates to Alzheimer’s disease in people, aiming to spot early signals that may lead to prevention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $845,083 |
| NIH project number | 4R33AG087904-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11537708 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for or diagnosed with aging-related cognitive changes or Alzheimer’s disease who can undergo diffusion MRI and provide biological samples.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without risk factors or signs of brain aging may derive little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses diffusion MRI to look beyond brain structure and examine micro-scale processes that happen as we age and as Alzheimer’s disease develops. It will integrate imaging data with biological markers to build a multi-scale model of brain aging and neurodegeneration. The goal is to identify early indicators of accelerated aging and how these changes relate to AD and related dementias so doctors can recognize risk sooner. The work is designed to be clinically feasible and to inform future prevention strategies and therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve early detection of Alzheimer’s risk and guide personalized preventive approaches.
How similar studies have gone: Previous brain-age studies using MRI have shown promise, but this project advances to a meso-scale diffusion approach.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fieremans, Els — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Fieremans, Els
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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.