Early gene and circuit changes in Alzheimer's brain
Transcriptomic and Circuitry Aberrations in Alzheimer’s Disease
This project looks at how changes in gene activity in certain brain cells and circuits may cause early memory and thinking problems in people with Alzheimer’s.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237055 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will compare gene activity in brain tissue from people with early versus late Alzheimer’s and in nerve cells grown from patients' own cells. They will use large-scale RNA sequencing and computer analysis to find which genes and pathways are reduced early in the disease. The team will then study electrical signaling in mouse models and in patient-derived neurons to see how those gene changes affect nerve cell communication. Together this links molecular changes to circuit function that may underlie early cognitive decline.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment who can donate skin or blood cells for iPSC creation or enroll in brain donation programs would be ideal candidates to support this work.
Not a fit: People with advanced, widespread brain degeneration are less likely to benefit from approaches aimed at reversing early synaptic gene loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific molecular targets to protect synapses and slow early cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s.
How similar studies have performed: RNA sequencing, patient-derived iPSC neurons, and mouse electrophysiology have each been used before, but combining them to pinpoint early circuit-level gene loss is a newer and less-tested strategy.
Where this research is happening
Amherst, United States
- State University of New York at Buffalo — Amherst, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yan, Zhen — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Yan, Zhen
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.