How 3D DNA folding in brain cells links to Alzheimer's risk
Higher Order Chromatin and Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
Researchers are mapping how the three-dimensional packing of DNA in brain cells may connect genetic risk to Alzheimer's for people with or at risk for the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11090366 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work examines human brain tissue to see how the genome's 3-D structure and regulatory marks differ between people with Alzheimer's and those without. Scientists used cell-type specific ATAC-seq to look at open chromatin in neurons and non-neurons from the entorhinal cortex and superior temporal gyrus. They compare samples from different stages of disease to find regulatory signatures tied to clinical dementia and brain pathology. The goal is to link non-coding genetic risk regions to the gene regulation changes that occur in Alzheimer's.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, individuals at high risk, or donors able to provide brain tissue samples (typically postmortem brain donation) would be the most relevant contributors to this work.
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer's-related brain pathology or those seeking immediate therapeutic benefit are unlikely to gain direct personal benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal biological pathways and molecular targets that help guide new diagnostics or treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior chromatin- and epigenome-mapping studies have identified regulatory changes linked to Alzheimer's risk, but turning those findings into therapies remains in early stages.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roussos, Panagiotis — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Roussos, Panagiotis
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.