Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease: Understanding How They Connect
Official title: Depression and Alzheimer's Disease: CaTAUstrophy?
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11335591 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how depressive symptoms relate to Alzheimer's disease biology in older adults to find ways to prevent or slow memory loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $806,868 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG078191-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335591 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults without dementia who have varying levels of depressive symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
People without depressive symptoms or unrelated cognitive concerns may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital will follow cognitively unimpaired older adults over time, using advanced brain tau imaging and new blood tests to see how depressive symptoms relate to Alzheimer’s pathology. The study aims to map how tau-related changes and mood symptoms evolve together and whether these patterns predict future cognitive decline. Findings could guide earlier identification of those at risk and inform new prevention strategies that are easier to translate to clinics. The approach combines longitudinal imaging with accessible biomarker tests to move findings toward real-world use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could enable earlier recognition of people at risk for dementia and support development of strategies to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline.
How similar studies have gone: Some prior work suggests a link between depressive symptoms and Alzheimer’s pathology, but more evidence is needed across the full range of depression severity.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gatchel, Jennifer Rose — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Gatchel, Jennifer Rose
Related research
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-
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-
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This study is looking at how depression might affect brain changes related to Alzheimer's disease in older adults who are still mentally sharp, to see if depressive symptoms could signal early signs of memory problems and help find new ways to prevent dementia.
-
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This study is looking at how depression might affect the chances of developing Alzheimer's disease by checking the levels of certain proteins in the brain, and it's for adults over 21 who are dealing with depression to help understand how their mood might relate to their brain health.
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This study is looking at how depression and Alzheimer's disease might be linked, especially by exploring how things during pregnancy could play a role, and it's for anyone interested in understanding more about brain health and memory changes over time.
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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.