How amyloid‑β affects tiny blood‑vessel control in the brain
Official title: Amyloid-β Disruption of Pericyte Control of Capillary Hemodynamics
Funded at University of Nevada Reno · NIH-11316978 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether the Alzheimer's protein amyloid‑β changes how capillary‑supporting cells (pericytes) control blood flow in adults with or at risk for Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nevada Reno NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Reno, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $509,289 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG081935-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11316978 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults (21+) diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment, or people willing to provide brain imaging or tissue samples at the study site.
✕Less likely to help
People whose cognitive problems are caused by non‑amyloid conditions or who do not have vascular contributions to their dementia may not benefit directly from these findings.
What this research studies
You would be contributing to research that uses high‑resolution imaging and laboratory studies to see how amyloid‑β changes calcium signals and contraction in pericytes, the cells that help regulate blood flow in brain capillaries. The team will compare findings from people with Alzheimer's disease to control samples and may use animal or tissue models to test how those pericyte changes affect removal of toxic proteins and local blood flow. They will also test whether blocking these calcium changes can restore normal capillary function in their models. The goal is to identify whether protecting capillary control could help clear amyloid and support brain health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to treatments that protect capillary blood flow and improve removal of toxic amyloid to slow cognitive decline.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies link vascular dysfunction and pericyte loss to Alzheimer's, but directly targeting pericyte calcium signaling is a newer approach with limited clinical testing so far.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nevada Reno
Reno, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gonzales, Albert Louis — University of Nevada Reno
- Study coordinator: Gonzales, Albert Louis
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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.