Mitochondrial DNA changes and their link to brain health and Alzheimer's risk
Associations of Mitochondrial DNA Alterations with Alzheimer's Disease Related Brain Health
This work looks at whether changes in mitochondrial DNA in blood are linked to thinking and memory changes in middle-aged and older adults who may be at risk for Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11379339 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would give blood so researchers can measure how much mitochondrial DNA you have and whether there are small mutations, and you would take memory and thinking tests and possibly have brain scans to look for early signs of Alzheimer's. The team will follow people over time and compare mitochondrial measures with changes in thinking, brain imaging markers, and heart-health risk factors. They will pay special attention to midlife when preventive steps might work best. The study aims to find simple, scalable blood markers that show early brain changes before symptoms appear.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults in midlife or older, especially those worried about memory decline or with genetic risk factors like APOE-ε4, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with advanced Alzheimer's dementia or conditions unrelated to Alzheimer's are unlikely to get direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a blood-based marker that detects Alzheimer's-related brain changes earlier and helps guide prevention efforts.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies in older adults have linked mitochondrial DNA copy number and mutation load to cognitive decline and Alzheimer's, but applying these measures in midlife and tying them to early brain changes is fairly new.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pan, Yang — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Pan, Yang
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.