Korean Brain Aging and Alzheimer's Biomarker Project
KBASE2: Korean Brain Aging Study, Longitudinal Endophenotypes and Systems Biology
This project follows people across Korea with brain scans, genetic testing, and health checks to find early signs of Alzheimer's and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168930 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have regular visits for memory and thinking tests, brain imaging (MRI and PET), and give blood or other samples for biomarker and genetic tests. The project includes people who are cognitively normal, have mild cognitive problems, or have Alzheimer's dementia and follows them over time. Over 1,000 whole-genome sequences from Korean participants will be added to a large international Alzheimer's genetics database and analyzed with other AD datasets. Researchers will compare the clinical, imaging, and genetic data to find patterns that point to early changes and risk factors in this population.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (about ages 20–90) who are willing to travel to study sites in Korea and who are cognitively normal, have mild cognitive impairment, or have Alzheimer dementia are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who cannot undergo brain scans or genetic testing, who cannot travel to study sites in Korea, or whose cognitive problems are clearly due to non-Alzheimer causes may not directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help detect Alzheimer's earlier and guide better prevention or treatments, especially for Korean and East Asian patients.
How similar studies have performed: Large efforts like ADNI have successfully used similar imaging and biomarker methods to identify Alzheimer-related changes, and this project applies those proven approaches to a Korean cohort while adding extensive whole-genome sequencing.
Where this research is happening
Indianapolis, United States
- Indiana University Indianapolis — Indianapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saykin, Andrew J — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Saykin, Andrew J
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 below.