Synapse damage in Alzheimer's and related dementias
Neuropathology of synapses in AD and ADRD
This project uses a new lab method and machine learning to look closely at tiny connections between brain cells to understand why synapses break down in people with Alzheimer's and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11456896 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze human brain tissue and Alzheimer mouse models using a new technique called SynTOF that measures many molecular markers on single synapses. They will apply machine-learning tools to millions of single-synapse measurements to find molecular patterns linked to which neurons are vulnerable or resilient. The team will compare results from common transgenic mouse models and human samples to check how well the models match the human condition. This work builds on an existing tissue resource and novel analytics to identify pathways that might protect synapses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias (and matched controls) who are enrolled in brain-donation or tissue-banking programs.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate change in their clinical care or those not enrolled in tissue-donation programs are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could identify targets or biomarkers to help protect synapses and guide future treatments or tests for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies show synapse loss is central to Alzheimer's, but combining high-throughput single-synapse profiling with machine learning is a relatively new approach with limited large-scale human validation so far.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Montine, Thomas J — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Montine, Thomas J
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.