Skin test to find Alzheimer and related dementia proteins
Skin biomarkers for diagnosing and characterizing AD and ADRD
This project looks for Alzheimer and Lewy body dementia proteins in small skin samples to help people with memory problems get an earlier or clearer diagnosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11134620 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will take small skin samples and run very sensitive lab tests (called RT-QuIC and PMCA) that can amplify and detect tiny amounts of misfolded proteins linked to Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia. The team will compare skin results with clinical diagnoses and other measures to see whether skin signals match disease type or severity. The work builds on methods that found similar misfolded proteins in brain and spinal fluid and on preliminary data showing tau signals in skin. The goal is to create a less invasive way to support diagnosis and track disease over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with memory loss, cognitive decline, or a clinical suspicion of Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, or related neurodegenerative disorders would be the main candidates.
Not a fit: People without suspected neurodegenerative disease or whose condition is unrelated to misfolded protein aggregates are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a less-invasive skin-based test to help diagnose or monitor Alzheimer's and related dementias earlier and more accurately.
How similar studies have performed: Related amplification assays have successfully detected misfolded proteins in brain and CSF for prion disease and Parkinson's, and preliminary work has shown tau seeding can be detected in skin, but broader use for Alzheimer's is still being developed.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Case Western Reserve University — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kraus, Allison L — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Kraus, Allison L
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.