Understanding different thinking and memory patterns in people at higher Alzheimer's risk
Cognitive heterogeneity in those with high Alzheimer's Disease Risk
This project looks at how thinking and memory vary in people with biological signs of Alzheimer's to find who is more likely to develop symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238001 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your point of view, researchers will combine results from blood tests, brain scans (PET), cognitive tests, and donated brain tissue to map patterns of thinking and memory. They will focus on people who show amyloid or tau markers or who have mild cognitive changes to see which patterns predict later decline. The team will use data-driven methods to group people by cognitive profile and compare those who stay stable to those who progress. The goal is to make clearer predictions about early Alzheimer-related decline.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people with Alzheimer's biomarkers (amyloid and/or tau), those with mild cognitive impairment, or people known to be at higher genetic risk such as APOE carriers.
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer's biomarkers or those with advanced dementia beyond the mild cognitive stage are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify people most likely to develop Alzheimer's symptoms sooner so they can get earlier monitoring and planning.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked biomarkers and cognitive tests to progression risk, but this project's integrated, data-driven approach across blood, PET, and tissue is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Au, Rhoda — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Au, Rhoda
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.