Protein changes linked to Alzheimer's and related dementias
Protein co-pathologies in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
This project compares protein clumps in skin nerves and brains of people with Alzheimer's and related dementias to learn how those proteins affect symptoms and decline.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251994 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the team will compare protein buildups found in skin nerves with those in brain tissue from people who had Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. They will use microscopic cell-counting methods and high-throughput techniques to measure synapse and neuron loss and focus on brainstem neurons that make norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine. The researchers will also look for alpha-synuclein and other protein aggregates in skin biopsies and autopsy brains to see whether skin markers mirror brain changes. The goal is to create a model that explains how multiple protein pathologies together drive cognitive decline.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, especially those willing to provide a skin biopsy or to arrange brain donation after death, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer’s or related dementias, or those unwilling to provide tissue samples or participate in donation, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to skin-based biomarkers or better ways to identify the mix of protein problems that drive symptoms, helping target diagnosis and future treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Similar skin-nerve alpha-synuclein markers have been informative in Parkinson's disease, but applying peripheral nerve markers to Alzheimer's and mixed dementia pathologies is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aldridge, Georgina — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Aldridge, Georgina
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.