Exploring breath biomarkers for diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease
Official title: Antemortem biomarkers in nasally exhaled breath: A potential novel, noninvasive human diagnostic technique for Alzheimer’s Disease
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11053747 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether we can find signs of Alzheimer's Disease in the breath you exhale through your nose, which might help us diagnose the condition in a simple and non-invasive way.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $440,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG091651-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11053747 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing cognitive decline or symptoms related to Alzheimer's Disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other forms of dementia unrelated to Alzheimer's may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates whether biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease can be detected in nasally exhaled breath. The team will analyze the presence of the neural protein Tau, which preliminary findings suggest is more concentrated in nasal breath compared to oral breath and correlates with the severity of dementia. By focusing on nasally exhaled samples, the study aims to leverage the unique anatomy of the nasal cavity, which may provide direct access to neural biomarkers. This noninvasive approach could lead to a new diagnostic technique for Alzheimer's Disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a simple and noninvasive method for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.
How similar studies have gone: While research on exhaled breath biomarkers is ongoing, this specific focus on nasally exhaled breath for Alzheimer's diagnosis is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zelano, Christina Maria — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Zelano, Christina Maria
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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.