Proteins that stick to amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's
Official title: Amyloidosis associated proteins in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11169687 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The team is looking at whether extra proteins that collect with amyloid plaques help cause brain injury in people with Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $739,630 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG074569-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11169687 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Alzheimer's disease—especially those with early-stage disease or evidence of amyloid buildup—are the group most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without Alzheimer's or those with non-amyloid forms of dementia are unlikely to get direct benefit from this specific line of work.
What this research studies
This work uses detailed protein studies of human Alzheimer's brain samples and mouse models to find proteins that accumulate with amyloid-beta plaques. The researchers will combine large public proteomics datasets (like AMP-AD) with laboratory experiments in mice and molecular analyses to see which amyloid-associated proteins (AAPs) are linked to nerve-cell loss. They aim to explain why amyloid buildup can exist for years before neurodegeneration starts by testing whether AAPs help trigger the damage. The findings will guide which proteins might become targets for future tests or treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If true, this could identify new targets to stop or slow the brain damage that leads to dementia in Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have gone: Proteomics has already found many proteins in amyloid plaques, but linking specific plaque-associated proteins to downstream neurodegeneration is a relatively new and active area of research.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prokop, Stefan — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Prokop, Stefan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating the role of amyloid-associated proteins in Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at how certain proteins linked to amyloid buildup in the brain might play a role in causing Alzheimer's disease, with the hope of finding new ways to understand and treat the condition.
-
Understanding how brain activity changes may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression in a mouse model
Researchers are testing how changes in brain signals and protein cleanup processes affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
-
Thiamine-boosting therapy for Alzheimer’s: understanding how benfotiamine may reduce harmful AGE in DP patients
A medication-based approach using high-dose vitamin B1 (benfotiamine) is studied to help people with Alzheimer's by reducing harmful sugar-related molecules.
-
Non-invasive tears biomarker for early Alzheimer's in LMICs
A low-cost, tear-based biomarker approach aims to detect early Alzheimer’s disease in older adults in Peru and similar settings.
-
Turning APOE4 into protective APOE2 or APOE3Christchurch to help with Alzheimer’s
A patient-facing explanation of a treatment idea that aims to change a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in the brain.
-
Telomerase in Alzheimer’s Disease: how aging biology could influence memory and brain health
Researchers are exploring a new brain-aging mechanism linked to telomerase, with potential to slow or modify Alzheimer’s disease in people and improve cognitive function.
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.