Family-based search for genes that protect against Alzheimer's and support healthy aging
Project 1
This project looks for rare family-linked genetic changes that help people stay mentally sharp and resist Alzheimer's, focusing on families with many long-lived members.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11096296 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers follow families with many long-lived members and collect detailed health, cognitive, and lifestyle information at in-person visits over years. They perform whole-genome sequencing and family-based linkage analyses to find rare protective genetic variants that appear in pedigrees with exceptional cognition or resilience to Alzheimer's disease. The project includes offspring and grandchildren enrolled in the Long Life Family Study and links participant records to medical registries to track health outcomes over time. Results are used to identify biological pathways that could inform future prevention strategies or therapies for age-related cognitive decline.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people from families with multiple long-lived relatives (offspring or grandchildren of LLFS pedigrees) who can provide health information and a DNA sample.
Not a fit: People without a family history of exceptional longevity or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to gain direct medical benefit from this genetic discovery-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Identifying protective genetic factors could point to new ways to prevent Alzheimer's or develop treatments that mimic those protective effects.
How similar studies have performed: Previous Long Life Family Study publications and other family-based genetics projects have found rare variants linked to healthy aging and cognitive resilience, though turning discoveries into therapies remains early-stage.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Province, Michael a. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Province, Michael a.
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.