Understanding how the loss of the Y chromosome affects aging
Official title: Loss of the Y Chromosome and Its Implications in Aging
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-11170841 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the loss of the Y chromosome in older men might be linked to aging and health problems, and it aims to understand how certain genetic factors play a role in this process.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $431,132 |
| NIH project number | 1R56AG088624-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170841 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older men who may exhibit loss of the Y chromosome and are experiencing age-related health issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger or do not have any age-related health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the loss of the Y chromosome (LOY) in older men and its potential implications for aging and age-related diseases. By utilizing both computational methods and hands-on experiments, the study aims to explore the relationship between LOY and genetic factors that contribute to aging. The researchers will examine how rare genetic variants influence LOY and its connection to genome instability as people age. This comprehensive approach seeks to uncover the mechanisms linking LOY to various age-related health issues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into the genetic factors influencing aging and age-related diseases, potentially improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While the investigation of LOY in aging is a relatively novel area, preliminary studies suggest that understanding chromosomal alterations could provide valuable insights into age-related diseases.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Zhengdong — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Zhengdong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Understanding how brain resilience and multiple brain pathologies influence aging and Alzheimer's disease
A long-term study follows older adults to learn how resilience to brain changes helps reduce dementia risk and what biological factors are linked to better cognitive aging.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
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.