Understanding how the immune system relates to mood symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease
Official title: Disentangling the Peripheral Immune Landscape Behind Depression, Anxiety, and Apathy in Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11226377 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist will study how immune system signals in people with Alzheimer’s relate to mood problems like depression, anxiety, and apathy to find new ways to help patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $161,892 |
| NIH project number | 1K08AG090636-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11226377 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Alzheimer’s disease who experience affective symptoms such as depression, anxiety, or apathy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Alzheimer’s or without mood symptoms may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at why mood changes are so common in Alzheimer’s and whether immune system changes in blood types can explain those symptoms. The team will use real patient data and blood samples to connect specific immune markers with depression, anxiety, and apathy. By linking these signs to Alzheimer’s biology, the work could point to new biomarkers and directions for treatment. The study is led by a clinician-scientist at the University of Washington and is designed to fit into clinical care settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to blood tests that help doctors distinguish mood symptoms in dementia and guide the development of targeted therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked peripheral immune signals to mood disorders and neurodegeneration, supporting potential relevance of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fisher, Daniel W. — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Fisher, Daniel W.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Exploring the link between depression and Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at how depression might affect brain changes related to Alzheimer's disease in older adults who are still mentally sharp, to see if depressive symptoms could signal early signs of memory problems and help find new ways to prevent dementia.
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.