Tau buildup and blood vessel disease in Mexican American adults with Alzheimer's
Official title: Cerebral tau deposition and comorbid cerebrovascular disease across the Alzheimer's disease continuum in Mexican Americans
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Science Center · NIH-11169830 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using brain PET scans and AI, this project looks for tau protein buildup and cerebrovascular disease in Mexican American adults across the Alzheimer's spectrum to help detect disease earlier and predict memory decline.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,810,962 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG085571-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11169830 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Mexican American adults (21+) who are on the Alzheimer's disease spectrum, including people with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease dementia, or at elevated risk for AD.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot undergo PET or MRI imaging, are unwilling to participate in imaging and cognitive visits, or whose symptoms are due to non-Alzheimer causes may not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would receive specialized brain PET scans that show tau protein using a tracer (18F‑MK‑6240), plus MRI and cognitive testing. The team will apply advanced AI methods to map tau patterns and quantify how tau and blood vessel disease together relate to thinking and memory. They will enroll Mexican American adults across the Alzheimer's continuum and compare findings to other groups to better understand observed disparities. The study will also collect information on vascular risk factors and social determinants of health that may influence brain changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors detect Alzheimer's earlier and more accurately in Mexican American patients and account for coexisting vascular disease when planning care.
How similar studies have gone: Tau PET imaging and AI methods have improved detection and prognosis in other cohorts, but few studies have tested these approaches specifically in Mexican American populations.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Science Center
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Habes, Mohamad — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Habes, Mohamad
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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.