Finding New Uses for Existing Medicines to Prevent Alzheimer's
MWAS+ – A Novel Drug Repurposing Strategy for ADRD Prevention
This project looks for existing medicines that could help prevent Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in people aged 65 and older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11093460 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Nearly 6 million Americans aged 65 and older are affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), which currently have no cure. This project aims to find new ways to prevent ADRD by repurposing existing FDA-approved drugs. Researchers will use a special approach called MWAS+ to systematically examine large clinical databases. This involves using innovative machine learning and statistical tools to discover new benefits of older drugs, offering a cost-effective and efficient path to prevention.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is focused on understanding how existing medications might benefit individuals aged 65 and older who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Not a fit: Patients currently seeking a cure or immediate treatment for active Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may not directly benefit from this prevention-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias using medicines already available.
How similar studies have performed: While drug repurposing has occurred accidentally in the past, this project proposes a novel, systematic approach using advanced computational methods to purposefully identify new uses for existing drugs.
Where this research is happening
Washington, United States
- George Washington University — Washington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zeng, Qing — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Zeng, Qing
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.