How cholesterol and tiny fat droplets affect brain cells in Alzheimer's
Official title: Neuronal Vulnerability to Lipid Droplets and Cholesterol in Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at Endeavor Health Clinical Operations · NIH-11306596 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores whether abnormal cholesterol and small fat droplets inside nerve cells harm people with Alzheimer's or those at higher genetic risk (for example, APOE4 carriers) and whether targeting these problems could protect the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Endeavor Health Clinical Operations NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Evanston, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $643,206 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG081374-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11306596 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Alzheimer's disease and individuals at higher genetic risk such as APOE4 carriers who can provide samples or enroll in affiliated studies would be the most relevant participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without Alzheimer's or related risk factors (for example those with non‑AD dementias or no APOE risk) are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Researchers grow human stem-cell-derived excitatory neurons and mini‑brain cortical organoids in the lab, sometimes with astrocytes, to model how cholesterol and lipid droplets form in neurons. They compare neurons carrying different APOE versions (including APOE4) and use single‑cell gene expression and chromatin accessibility (ATAC) analyses to study neuron‑to‑oligodendrocyte precursor cell signaling and remyelination pathways. The team also examines single‑cell and other molecular data from human Alzheimer's brains to link lab models to real patient tissue. Together these approaches aim to show whether abnormal neuronal lipid handling leads to neuronal damage and impaired repair in Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to protect neurons by targeting cholesterol or lipid droplet pathways, which might slow or modify Alzheimer's progression.
How similar studies have gone: Related lab studies using human stem‑cell neurons and APOE models have shown lipid changes linked to neuronal stress, but turning those findings into effective patient treatments has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
-
Endeavor Health Clinical Operations
Evanston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Duan, Jubao — Endeavor Health Clinical Operations
- Study coordinator: Duan, Jubao
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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.