Investigating the role of brain cells in apathy for Huntington's disease
Official title: White matter-associated striatal astrocytes and their role in apathy in Huntington's disease
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11053596 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain cells might be linked to feelings of apathy in people with Huntington's disease, with the hope of finding new ways to help improve motivation and daily life for those affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $193,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R21NS136971-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11053596 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Huntington's disease who experience symptoms of apathy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of Huntington's disease or those who do not exhibit symptoms of apathy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how specific brain cells, called astrocytes, contribute to apathy in patients with Huntington's disease (HD). Apathy is a common and debilitating symptom in HD that affects patients' motivation and quality of life. The study aims to explore the cellular mechanisms behind this symptom by examining the relationship between inflammation, brain structure changes, and astrocyte function in the striatum, a brain region impacted by HD. By identifying these mechanisms, the research seeks to pave the way for new treatments that can alleviate apathy and improve daily functioning for HD patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies that significantly improve the quality of life for patients suffering from apathy in Huntington's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that targeting astrocyte dysfunction can lead to improvements in mood disorders, suggesting potential for success in this novel approach for Huntington's disease.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gomez-Pastor, Rocio — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Gomez-Pastor, Rocio
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how the immune system relates to mood symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease
A doctor-scientist will study how immune system signals in people with Alzheimer’s relate to mood problems like depression, anxiety, and apathy to find new ways to help patients.
-
Understanding the brain changes related to apathy in Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at how feelings of apathy in people with Alzheimer's are connected to changes in the brain, using special imaging to see how certain proteins are affecting motivation and behavior, with the hope of finding better ways to help manage these feelings.
-
Understanding CAG repeat instability in Huntington’s disease
A Huntington’s disease study explores why the CAG repeat in the HTT gene becomes unstable and leads to earlier disease, aiming to uncover factors that influence when and how the disease starts.
-
Understanding how brain activity changes may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression in a mouse model
Researchers are testing how changes in brain signals and protein cleanup processes affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
-
Thiamine-boosting therapy for Alzheimer’s: understanding how benfotiamine may reduce harmful AGE in DP patients
A medication-based approach using high-dose vitamin B1 (benfotiamine) is studied to help people with Alzheimer's by reducing harmful sugar-related molecules.
-
Non-invasive tears biomarker for early Alzheimer's in LMICs
A low-cost, tear-based biomarker approach aims to detect early Alzheimer’s disease in older adults in Peru and similar settings.
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.