Understanding Lewy Body Dementias to Improve Care
Official title: Dissecting the Etiology of The Lewy Body Dementias
Funded at J. David Gladstone Institutes · NIH-11394200 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are exploring what makes Lewy body dementias unique so that patients may receive better, more targeted treatments in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | J. David Gladstone Institutes NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $822,417 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS124848-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394200 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Lewy body dementia, including DLB and PDD, or those with related biomarkers and genetic profiles.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without Lewy body dementia or related biomarkers may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Lewy body dementias include dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease with dementia, and this project aims to uncover how these conditions differ or overlap in their biology. The study will examine forms of the protein alpha-synuclein and how different modifications might influence which brain cells are affected and how the disease presents clinically. By linking genetic findings to disease mechanisms and antibody patterns, the team hopes to identify disease-specific targets and biomarkers that could guide therapy. The research is designed to translate molecular insights into potential new treatment approaches for patients with these dementias.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to personalized therapies and better diagnostic markers for Lewy body dementias.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests distinct alpha-synuclein forms may relate to different disease features, supporting a targeted approach, though this specific path is being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
J. David Gladstone Institutes
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Finkbeiner, Steven M — J. David Gladstone Institutes
- Study coordinator: Finkbeiner, Steven M
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.