Treating depression to understand amyloid (Aβ) and Alzheimer’s risk
Official title: Depression treatment and Aβ dynamics: A study of Alzheimer’s disease risk
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11144393 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will look at whether treating depression in older adults changes amyloid (Aβ) levels in blood and spinal fluid and might affect future Alzheimer’s risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $741,212 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG070821-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11144393 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults with major depressive symptoms but without significant cognitive decline who are willing to give blood and CSF samples and attend clinic visits.
✕Less likely to help
People with advanced dementia or significant cognitive impairment, those without depression, or those unwilling to provide blood/CSF samples are unlikely to benefit from participating.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will enroll adults with depression who do not have major memory loss and follow them over time. You would complete depression rating scales and provide blood and spinal fluid (CSF) samples so the team can measure Aβ levels. The team will track how symptoms and Aβ levels change with treatment and over follow-up visits. The goal is to see whether improving depression relates to changes in amyloid markers linked to Alzheimer’s risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could show that treating depression affects amyloid markers and point to ways to lower Alzheimer’s risk through mental health care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have found links between depression and amyloid and the investigators have preliminary data showing correlations, but whether treating depression changes Aβ levels is not yet established.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pomara, Nunzio — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Pomara, Nunzio
Related research
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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.