Exploring the link between depression and Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Depression and Alzheimer's Disease: CaTAUstrophy?
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11095852 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $786,203 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG078191-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11095852 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cognitively unimpaired older adults who exhibit clinically significant depressive symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have depressive symptoms or those already diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how depression interacts with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, particularly focusing on the role of tau proteins. By studying cognitively healthy older adults, the research aims to understand how depressive symptoms may influence cognitive decline and dementia risk. The approach includes advanced imaging techniques and blood tests to track tau levels over time, providing insights into the relationship between depression and Alzheimer's. The goal is to identify early signs of cognitive decline in individuals with significant depressive symptoms, potentially leading to new prevention strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved methods for early detection and prevention of Alzheimer's disease in individuals experiencing depression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the relationship between depression and cognitive decline, but this specific approach focusing on tau proteins is relatively novel.
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
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease: Understanding How They Connect
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.
-
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-
Treating depression to understand amyloid (Aβ) and Alzheimer’s risk
Researchers will look at whether treating depression in older adults changes amyloid (Aβ) levels in blood and spinal fluid and might affect future Alzheimer’s risk.
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Investigating the link between depression and Alzheimer's disease risk
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.
-
How depression affects Alzheimer's disease and its origins during pregnancy
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.
-
Understanding how brain activity changes may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression in a mouse model
Researchers are testing how changes in brain signals and protein cleanup processes affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
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.