Microglial diversity and cognitive resilience in aging and Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Role of Microglial Heterogeneity on Cognitive Resilience in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11336377 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A physician-scientist at Mayo Clinic is pursuing a five-year career development plan to understand how different microglia behave in aging and Alzheimer’s, aiming to improve brain health and resilience.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $155,520 |
| NIH project number | 5K08AG081460-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11336377 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at risk for or diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or Alzheimer’s-type dementia, and aging adults at risk for cognitive decline.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience direct benefits if they do not have the disease or biomarkers studied, or if imaging findings do not translate to clinical outcomes.
What this research studies
This project supports Dr. Aivi Nguyen as she develops skills in combining brain biomarkers, neuropsychiatric data, and postmortem brain analysis with advanced imaging of microglia in mouse models. The work blends antemortem biomarker data with detailed pathology to explore how microglial differences relate to cognitive resilience in aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Protected time will be used to gain expertise in two-photon in vivo imaging and translational neuropathology under senior mentors, with a focus on translating findings to human disease. The goal is to build a foundation for independent, patient-focused research that could inform future therapies for aging-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s pathology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could reveal microglial features linked to better cognitive resilience, guiding new approaches to preserve brain health in aging and Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show microglial involvement in aging and neurodegeneration; this proposal builds on that knowledge with a translational, human-focused approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nguyen, Aivi Thanh — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Nguyen, Aivi Thanh
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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.