mtDNA's role in Alzheimer's and aging conditions
Official title: Quantifying the contributions of mitochondrial DNA to Alzheimer's Disease and related conditions of aging
Funded at Michigan State University · NIH-11385338 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH grant will study how mitochondrial DNA is involved in Alzheimer’s disease and aging-related conditions using a family-based approach and a very large connected medical-record dataset.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michigan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $451,781 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG073189-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385338 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals connected to the large multigenerational pedigrees with linked medical records and a history or risk of Alzheimer’s disease and aging-related conditions.
✕Less likely to help
People without a family history or access to the linked records databases may not directly benefit from this analysis.
What this research studies
This project will develop and test a model that uses the unique maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA to estimate how much mtDNA variation contributes to Alzheimer’s disease and related aging conditions. After creating and validating the model, researchers will apply it to about 4.8 million individuals across many generations who have linked medical records. The study design emphasizes observing existing data from families rather than enrolling new participants in a traditional trial. The goal is to better understand the genetic contribution of mtDNA to disease risk and aging processes. If successful, the findings could guide future research on prevention and personalized care for people at risk for Alzheimer’s and related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could clarify how mitochondrial genetics influence Alzheimer’s risk, potentially informing future prevention and personalized approaches.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show mtDNA can contribute to disease risk, but this project advances a novel model and very large-scale analysis.
Where this research is happening
-
Michigan State University
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burt, S. Alexandra — Michigan State University
- Study coordinator: Burt, S. Alexandra
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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.