Investigating how aging affects mutations in brain cells related to Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Spatial single-cell analysis of somatic mutation in human brain during aging and neurodegeneration
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-10687449 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes in brain cells might play a role in aging and diseases like Alzheimer's, with the hope of finding new ways to help people affected by these conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,507,500 |
| NIH project number | 1DP2AG086139-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10687449 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include older adults experiencing cognitive decline or those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-onset dementia not related to Alzheimer's or those with other unrelated neurological conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how somatic mutations in brain cells contribute to aging and neurodegeneration, particularly in Alzheimer's disease. By utilizing advanced single-cell sequencing techniques, the study aims to identify and characterize these mutations at a cellular level, which could reveal important insights into the mechanisms of neuron loss. Patients may benefit from this research as it seeks to uncover the genetic factors that accelerate neurodegeneration, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to breakthroughs in understanding and treating Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding genetic mutations in neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lodato, Michael Anthony — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Lodato, Michael Anthony
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Understanding how brain resilience and multiple brain pathologies influence aging and Alzheimer's disease
A long-term study follows older adults to learn how resilience to brain changes helps reduce dementia risk and what biological factors are linked to better cognitive aging.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
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.