Mapping brain circuit changes in aging and Alzheimer's
Cell-type-specific neural circuit connectomes in the mouse models of aging and Alzheimer's disease
Researchers will map how specific brain cell types and their connections change with aging and Alzheimer’s using advanced mouse models that mirror human disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11359578 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient's perspective, this project will create high-resolution maps of hippocampal circuits to show which cell types and connections are altered by aging and Alzheimer’s-related pathology. The team will use three complementary mouse models (including 5xFAD, a humanized Aβ knock‑in, and Trem2 R47H knock‑in mice) and combine molecular single-cell profiling with anatomical circuit mapping. Work will be done across multiple labs using resources from UC Irvine, the MODEL‑AD Consortium, and the Allen Institute to produce a cell-type-specific connectome atlas. These data are intended to link molecular changes to circuit dysfunction that underlies memory loss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer’s disease or age-related memory problems are the group most likely to benefit from discoveries made in this work.
Not a fit: Patients with non‑Alzheimer’s causes of cognitive impairment or those in very advanced stages of illness are unlikely to receive direct benefit in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could reveal vulnerable cell types and circuit hubs that point to new targets for therapies or biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Related single-cell and connectome studies in preclinical models have identified cell-type vulnerabilities, but combining cell-type molecular profiles with large-scale circuit maps across next-generation AD mouse models is a relatively new and evolving approach.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Xiangmin — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Xu, Xiangmin
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.