Personal brain mapping to find Alzheimer's biomarkers
Individual functional brain mapping for biomarker discovery in Alzheimer's
This project uses MRI scans of how individual brains communicate to create easier, non-invasive tests that could spot Alzheimer's earlier in people with memory worries or at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Trustees of Indiana University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311820 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get functional MRI scans that map how different parts of your brain talk to each other to look for patterns linked to Alzheimer's. Researchers will use individual brain maps from ADNI and new scans to combine brain connectivity with routine structural MRI and blood markers. The team aims to build a multimodal biomarker that could be used before PET scans or lumbar punctures. Work is carried out through research centers like Indiana University and the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative to test whether these MRI-based patterns reliably identify people at risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with memory concerns, mild cognitive impairment, or people at risk for Alzheimer's who can travel to a research center for MRI and blood draws.
Not a fit: People without cognitive symptoms, those with non‑Alzheimer’s causes of memory loss, or those unable to undergo MRI may not benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a non-invasive, more accessible way to detect Alzheimer's changes earlier and help match patients to treatments or trials.
How similar studies have performed: Previous fMRI studies have shown brain connectivity changes in Alzheimer's, but no validated fMRI-based biomarker exists yet, so this builds on promising but unproven findings.
Where this research is happening
Bloomington, United States
- Trustees of Indiana University — Bloomington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mejia, Amanda F — Trustees of Indiana University
- Study coordinator: Mejia, Amanda F
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.