Immune changes and nerve growth factor problems linked to Alzheimer’s in people with Down syndrome
Official title: The role of immune deregulation and NGF dysmetabolism in the development of Alzheimer disease in individuals with Down syndrome
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11162248 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how immune system changes and problems with a brain protein called nerve growth factor relate to early Alzheimer’s in adults with Down syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $802,150 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG087280-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162248 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Down syndrome, typically age 21 and older, including those with normal cognition, mild cognitive changes, or early Alzheimer-type symptoms, would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without Down syndrome or those who are unable or unwilling to provide biological samples or travel to participating centers would likely not benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will work with adults with Down syndrome to collect clinical information, blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples, brain scans, and, when available, tissue samples. They will measure immune signals and how nerve growth factor (NGF) is processed, and compare these markers across people at different stages of Alzheimer-type brain changes. The team combines data and samples from several centers and uses standard Alzheimer biomarker frameworks plus new markers outside the AT(N) system. From your perspective, this means they are trying to find biological signs that show who is starting to develop Alzheimer changes and why it happens earlier in Down syndrome.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify markers and biological targets that help detect or prevent Alzheimer changes earlier in people with Down syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have documented Alzheimer pathology and some biomarkers in Down syndrome, but targeting immune system changes and NGF dysregulation in this way is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Busciglio, Jorge a — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Busciglio, Jorge a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Immune and NGF factors in Alzheimer’s for adults with Down syndrome
This grant studies why people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s disease by looking at immune signals and nerve growth factor problems.
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Immune system and NGF problems in Alzheimer's among adults with Down syndrome
This project studies why people with Down syndrome may develop Alzheimer’s disease by looking at immune signals and nerve growth factor imbalances.
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Immune changes and nerve growth factor problems linked to Alzheimer’s in adults with Down syndrome
Researchers are looking at how immune system changes and problems with nerve growth factor relate to Alzheimer’s in adults with Down syndrome.
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Creating a mouse model to study Alzheimer's disease in people with Down syndrome
This study is creating a special type of mouse that mimics how Alzheimer's disease affects people with Down syndrome, so researchers can learn more about the disease and find better ways to treat it, which could help patients in the future.
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Investigating how immune system changes and nerve growth factor issues contribute to Alzheimer's in people with Down syndrome
This study is looking at how Alzheimer's disease develops in people with Down syndrome to find new ways to spot it early and improve treatment, and it will involve tracking changes in thinking and memory over time.
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Exploring how Down syndrome affects optic nerve health in kids
A study using a mouse model to understand why optic nerve problems are common in children with Down syndrome and how to prevent them.
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.