How loss of ADNP and immune signals may drive Alzheimer's
Official title: A Multifactorial Mechanism for Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at VA Western New York Healthcare System · NIH-11206946 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether loss of a brain protein called ADNP together with overactive immune signals cause loss of brain connections and memory problems in people with Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Western New York Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006357-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11206946 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with Alzheimer's disease or their families who can provide clinical data or consent to brain donation for research.
✕Less likely to help
People without Alzheimer's or whose dementia stems from unrelated causes may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
The team analyzes large datasets from postmortem human prefrontal cortex samples and epigenetic data that point to increased complement immune activity and a key role for ADNP. They found ADNP and its partner HP1gamma are reduced in Alzheimer's brains and will model ADNP loss in mice to reproduce those changes. In mice they will track gene expression, synapse health, microglial activation, and behavior to see if complement-driven pruning leads to cognitive decline. The work combines human tissue genomics, epigenetics, neuropathology, and animal experiments to trace the chain from molecular change to memory loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to protect synapses and slow memory decline in Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has connected complement-driven microglial pruning to synapse loss in Alzheimer's, while targeting ADNP and chromatin regulation is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Western New York Healthcare System
Buffalo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yan, Zhen — VA Western New York Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Yan, Zhen
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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.