How depression affects Alzheimer's disease and its origins during pregnancy
Official title: Impact of Depression on Alzheimer's disease: Prenatal Immune Origins and Shared Impact of Sex
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10649666 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how depression and Alzheimer's disease might be linked, especially by exploring how things during pregnancy could play a role, and it's for anyone interested in understanding more about brain health and memory changes over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2019 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,240,167 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG067019-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10649666 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults aged 44-57 who have a history of prenatal exposure to conditions like preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not within the specified age range or do not have a relevant prenatal history may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between depression and Alzheimer's disease (AD), focusing on how prenatal factors may influence this relationship. By examining a unique cohort of individuals who have been followed since pregnancy, the study aims to uncover the shared biological pathways that contribute to both conditions, particularly looking at differences between sexes. The researchers will assess memory decline and brain health over time, using advanced imaging techniques to identify early signs of Alzheimer's pathology. This approach could provide valuable insights into prevention strategies for AD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new prevention strategies for Alzheimer's disease by understanding its links to depression and prenatal factors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the links between prenatal conditions and later cognitive outcomes, suggesting this approach may yield valuable findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goldstein, Jill M — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Goldstein, Jill M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease: Understanding How They Connect
This project looks at how depressive symptoms relate to Alzheimer's disease biology in older adults to find ways to prevent or slow memory loss.
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Understanding how the immune system relates to mood symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease
A doctor-scientist will study how immune system signals in people with Alzheimer’s relate to mood problems like depression, anxiety, and apathy to find new ways to help patients.
-
Treating depression to understand amyloid (Aβ) and Alzheimer’s risk
Researchers will look at whether treating depression in older adults changes amyloid (Aβ) levels in blood and spinal fluid and might affect future Alzheimer’s risk.
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Exploring the link between depression and Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at how depression might affect brain changes related to Alzheimer's disease in older adults who are still mentally sharp, to see if depressive symptoms could signal early signs of memory problems and help find new ways to prevent dementia.
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Investigating the link between depression and Alzheimer's disease risk
This study is looking at how depression might affect the chances of developing Alzheimer's disease by checking the levels of certain proteins in the brain, and it's for adults over 21 who are dealing with depression to help understand how their mood might relate to their brain health.
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Understanding how brain activity changes may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression in a mouse model
Researchers are testing how changes in brain signals and protein cleanup processes affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
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.