How blood lipids affect brain aging in Alzheimer's
Metabolic age to define influences of the lipidome on brain aging in Alzheimer's disease
This project looks at patterns of fats in blood and brain samples to better understand brain aging in people with or at risk for Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11517749 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will combine detailed lipid (fat) profiling with genetic and clinical data from large Alzheimer's cohorts to define a “metabolic age” of the brain. Researchers will analyze thousands of plasma lipid profiles and human brain samples from existing studies (for example ADNI, AIBL, ROS/MAP) and integrate results across the AD Metabolomics Consortium. Advanced informatics and machine learning will link lipid changes to genetic risk and clinical stage to find blood signals that reflect brain aging. The goal is to identify metabolic pathways and biomarkers that could guide future tests or treatments for people affected by Alzheimer’s.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults with Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, or older adults at risk who can provide blood samples or are enrolled in participating cohort studies.
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer's-related cognitive concerns or those unable to provide/access cohort study samples are unlikely to see direct benefits from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce blood-based markers of brain aging that help detect Alzheimer's earlier and point to new treatment targets.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lipidomics studies have found lipid changes tied to Alzheimer's, but applying a unified "metabolic age" approach across many cohorts is a newer strategy.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaddurah-Daouk, Rima F — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Kaddurah-Daouk, Rima F
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.