Understanding early brain changes in Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Identification of early transcriptional and pathological changes undergone by vulnerable brain regions during prodromal Alzheimer's disease
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-10985320 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brain changes early on in people with Alzheimer's, especially in a part of the brain important for memory, to find out what goes wrong before major symptoms show up, which could help create new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $459,076 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG085464-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10985320 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are asymptomatic individuals who may have early signs of Alzheimer's pathology, specifically those at Braak stage 0 or I/II.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease or those who do not show any signs of amyloid or tau pathology may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the early changes in brain regions that are vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease, focusing on the entorhinal cortex, which is crucial for memory. By analyzing brain samples from individuals at different stages of Alzheimer's, the researchers aim to identify specific molecular changes and pathways that lead to neuron degeneration. This could help in developing new treatments that target these early pathological changes before significant symptoms appear. The study employs advanced molecular profiling techniques to compare affected and unaffected neurons.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of early interventions that slow or prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding early Alzheimer's pathology, but this specific approach focusing on the entorhinal cortex is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roussarie, Jean-Pierre — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Roussarie, Jean-Pierre
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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.