NIH-funded research Career grant

Investigating how physical activity affects Alzheimer's disease through blood protein analysis

Official title: Plasma proteomic signatures of physical activity and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10914261 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how staying active might affect the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by checking certain proteins in the blood, and it's specifically for women who want to understand more about the connection between exercise and brain health.

More s Disease research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Diego
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2023
Project endAugust 31, 2025
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$102,873
NIH project number5K99AG082863-02
Project IDNIH-10914261 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are women over 21 years old who are physically active and at risk for Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.

Less likely to help

Patients who are not at risk for Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may not receive benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research explores the relationship between physical activity and Alzheimer's disease by analyzing blood proteins. It aims to understand how different levels of physical activity, measured through accelerometers, can influence the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and related dementias. By utilizing advanced machine learning techniques, the study will identify specific protein signatures associated with physical activity and Alzheimer's disease. Participants will be drawn from a large, diverse cohort of women, providing a comprehensive view of the molecular mechanisms involved.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or delaying Alzheimer's disease through targeted physical activity interventions.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the impact of physical activity on cognitive health, but this study aims to apply novel machine learning approaches to deepen that understanding.

Where this research is happening

  • University of California, San Diego
    La Jolla, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Nguyen, Steve — University of California, San Diego
  • Study coordinator: Nguyen, Steve

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.