Understanding How Some Brains Resist Alzheimer's Disease
Official title: Cell Type-Specific Proteins that Promote Resilience to Cognitive Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11099953 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks for natural protective factors in the brain that help some people maintain their thinking skills even as they age or develop early signs of Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,284,306 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG075818-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11099953 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation at this stage, but future clinical applications would target individuals at risk for or in early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention will not receive benefit from this early-stage discovery research.
What this research studies
We know that some individuals maintain sharp minds despite aging or even having changes in their brain linked to Alzheimer's. This project aims to discover the specific proteins within different brain cells that provide this natural protection. By studying these protective factors, we hope to find new ways to prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease. This work uses advanced methods with animal models to identify these key proteins, which could then be explored for human benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify new targets for developing treatments or preventive strategies for Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of resilience to Alzheimer's is recognized, this specific approach to identify cell type-specific protective proteins using advanced proteomic techniques in longitudinal models is innovative.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaczorowski, Catherine Cook — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Kaczorowski, Catherine Cook
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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.