Calcium problems in memory circuits in Alzheimer's
Calcium dysregulation and vulnerability of entorhinal cortex neurons in Alzheimer's disease
This project aims to fix calcium signaling in key brain cells to help protect memory circuits in people with early Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11317170 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use a well-known mouse model of Alzheimer's to study why neurons in the lateral entorhinal cortex, which connect to the hippocampus, lose their synapses early in the disease. They will focus on two proteins, the calcium-activated enzyme calcineurin and the regulator Pin1, to see if normalizing their activity preserves cell connections and memory-related function. The team will combine molecular tests, imaging, electrical recordings, behavior tests, and tissue analysis to track circuit health and timing of decline. Findings will be used to judge whether drugs that target calcineurin or related pathways might be worth testing in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with early-stage Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment affecting memory would be the most likely beneficiaries of therapies that come from this work.
Not a fit: People with non-Alzheimer dementias or very advanced Alzheimer's disease are unlikely to benefit directly from findings focused on early circuit changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to treatments that stabilize calcium signaling and slow early memory-circuit loss in Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: Related animal studies have suggested calcineurin and Pin1 affect synapses and memory, but these approaches are not yet proven in human trials.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Malter, James S — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Malter, James S
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.