Impact of brain-derived exosomes on Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in older adults
Official title: Impact of TBI and Cognitive Decline on Alzheimer's Disease Brain-Derived Exosome Cargo
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11463254 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at tiny particles shed by brain cells in blood to see if they reveal early signs of Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline in older people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $645,437 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG079303-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11463254 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with a history of traumatic brain injury or at risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without CNS-related concerns or those not contributing to banked plasma samples may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze neuron- and astrocyte-derived exosomes from stored blood samples to identify biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s pathology and brain aging. They will focus on how exosome cargo relates to cognitive changes after traumatic brain injury and in aging individuals, using existing plasma banks. The study builds on prior findings that exosome proteins can be more informative than free blood proteins for detecting disease-related changes. By comparing exosome profiles with cognitive data, the project aims to uncover biomarkers that reflect CNS pathology accessible from blood.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could yield blood-based biomarkers to help detect and monitor Alzheimer's risk and brain injury-related cognitive decline.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies showed exosome cargo can reflect brain pathology and distinguish disease states, but aging and TBI contexts need further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rissman, Robert — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Rissman, Robert
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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.