Understanding how tau protein spreads in Alzheimer's disease without memory loss

Spreading Tau Pathology in Non-Amnestic Alzheimer's Disease

NIH-funded research University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10934546

This study is looking at how a protein called tau spreads in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, especially those who don't mainly have memory problems, to help us understand how the disease progresses and improve care for everyone affected.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pennsylvania NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-10934546 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the progression of tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease, particularly in patients who do not primarily experience memory impairment. It aims to understand how tau spreads between different brain regions through white matter connections, using advanced imaging techniques like PET and MRI. By examining changes in white matter over time, the study seeks to identify patterns that could predict disease progression and improve our understanding of Alzheimer's disease in various clinical presentations.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with non-amnestic Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.

Not a fit: Patients with purely amnestic Alzheimer's disease may not benefit directly from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for patients with non-amnestic Alzheimer's disease.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding tau pathology, but this specific approach focusing on non-amnestic Alzheimer's disease is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, 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 syndrome
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.