Understanding the Aged Human Brain for Alzheimer's Disease
Mapping the landscape of the aged human brain for neurodegenerative disease models
This project aims to better understand how the human brain ages to help us find new ways to address diseases like Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11187122 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that aging is a big factor in diseases like Alzheimer's, but we don't fully understand how the human brain changes with age. While animal models have taught us a lot, translating those findings to people can be tricky due to differences between species. This project uses advanced data from human brain tissue after death, along with human stem cell models, to explore the unique aging processes in human brain cells. By analyzing these large datasets, we hope to uncover specific genetic changes that happen in different brain cells as we age.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational work is for anyone interested in the future of Alzheimer's disease treatment, as it aims to uncover basic mechanisms of brain aging.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment options or direct clinical trial participation would not directly benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of brain aging and new targets for treatments for Alzheimer's and other age-related brain diseases.
How similar studies have performed: While human stem cell models and multi-omic data analysis are established techniques, this specific approach to integrate and leverage these datasets for understanding human brain aging in the context of neurodegeneration is a novel and ongoing area of exploration.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Young, Jessica Elaine — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Young, Jessica Elaine
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 below.