Cell-level maps of how aging and Alzheimer's change neurons in the entorhinal cortex
Mapping Cellular Resolution Connectopathies in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
This project will create detailed maps of how specific brain cells in the entorhinal cortex change with age and Alzheimer's disease to improve understanding for people with memory loss and dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11327257 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use mouse models that carry Alzheimer-linked proteins and humanized tau to study the entorhinal cortex, a brain region affected early in Alzheimer's. They will profile single-cell gene activity and DNA methylation, and use genetic sparse labeling to trace the shapes and connections of individual neurons at different ages and in both sexes. The team will compare molecular, epigenetic, and structural changes across young, middle-aged, and older animals to find cell types that show progressive damage. Results aim to link specific neuron types and molecular changes to aging and Alzheimer-like pathology.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This is preclinical, lab-based research using mouse models rather than a clinical trial, so it does not enroll patients for participation.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical benefit should expect no direct benefit from this project because it focuses on basic, animal-model research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could pinpoint specific neuron types and molecular changes that drive early Alzheimer's, pointing to new diagnostic markers and drug targets.
How similar studies have performed: Related single-cell and molecular mapping studies have identified disease-linked cell types in human and mouse brains, but this integrated morpho-molecular mapping across ages and specific Alzheimer models is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dong, Hong-Wei — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Dong, Hong-Wei
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.