tPA's role in brain blood flow in amyloid-related Alzheimer's
tPA and Cerebrovascular Regulation in a Model of ß-amyloid Pathology
Looks at whether boosting a natural enzyme called tPA to improve brain blood flow could help people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300251 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how the Alzheimer protein amyloid-beta interferes with a natural enzyme, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), that helps increase blood flow when brain cells are active. The team focuses on perivascular macrophages, a type of brain immune cell that may release reactive oxygen species (ROS) and drive up the tPA blocker PAI-1. Using lab models that mimic amyloid pathology, they manipulate these cells and molecules to try to restore healthy neurovascular responses. The goal is to identify cellular sources of PAI-1 and molecular steps that could be targeted to rescue blood flow in early Alzheimer's.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with early-stage Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment related to amyloid pathology would be the population most likely to benefit from this line of research.
Not a fit: Those with advanced Alzheimer's or needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this primarily preclinical lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to restore brain blood flow and potentially slow cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies have linked tPA, PAI-1, and ROS to impaired neurovascular coupling and show that restoring tPA activity can improve blood flow in models, but benefits in people are not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Park, Laibaik — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Park, Laibaik
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.