Understanding brain changes that look like Alzheimer's disease

Diagnosis and Risk factors of hippocampal sclerosis of aging and limbic predominant age related TDP-43 encephalopathy; common Alzheimer’s mimics

NIH-funded research University of California-Irvine · NIH-11174458

This research aims to find ways to identify two brain conditions, HS-A and LATE-NC, that cause memory problems similar to Alzheimer's disease, while patients are still living.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California-Irvine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Irvine, United States)
Project IDNIH-11174458 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Hippocampal sclerosis of aging (HS-A) and Limbic predominant age related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE-NC) are brain conditions that cause memory loss, often mistaken for Alzheimer's disease. Currently, doctors can only confirm these conditions by examining brain tissue after a person has passed away. This makes it hard to offer specific treatments that are being developed for these conditions. Our goal is to discover new methods, like using MRI scans, to diagnose HS-A and LATE-NC in living individuals. This will help ensure people receive the correct diagnosis and appropriate care.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates would be older adults experiencing memory problems or dementia symptoms that might be mistaken for Alzheimer's disease.

Not a fit: Patients whose memory problems are clearly linked to other known causes or who do not have HS-A or LATE-NC may not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses for people experiencing memory loss, allowing them to access specific treatments as they become available.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work in this grant cycle has shown that quantitative methods are more informative and that MRI can detect early signs of HS-A.

Where this research is happening

Irvine, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementiaAlzheimer syndromeAlzheimer's DiseaseAlzheimer's disease pathologyAlzheimer's disease risk
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.