Understanding how quickly Alzheimer's disease progresses using blood tests
Plasma tau and neurodegenerative markers as predictors of rate of AD progression
This work looks at new blood tests to help us understand why Alzheimer's disease progresses at different speeds for different people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11092300 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Alzheimer's disease affects many people, but how quickly it gets worse can vary greatly from person to person. Some people experience a rapid decline in memory and thinking, while for others, the changes happen much more slowly. We are exploring new blood markers, like different forms of tau protein, to see if they can help predict these different rates of progression. By using blood samples from a large group of patients, we hope to connect these markers to how quickly someone's memory and daily function change over time, as well as to brain imaging results.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work is relevant to patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, particularly those with mild cognitive impairment.
Not a fit: Patients without Alzheimer's disease or related dementias would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to simple blood tests that help predict how quickly Alzheimer's disease will progress, allowing for more personalized care and treatment planning.
How similar studies have performed: While blood-based markers for Alzheimer's are a newer area, other studies have shown promise in using them to detect the disease, making this approach a logical next step.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chhatwal, Jasmeer P — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Chhatwal, Jasmeer P
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.