Understanding why cognitive problems happen in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1
Official title: Etiology of cognitive decline in Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11296198 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why thinking and memory decline occur in people with SCA1 and how brain regions and cells contribute to those problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $599,140 |
| NIH project number | 2R01NS109077-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11296198 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 who may later benefit from therapies targeting cognitive function.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cognitive symptoms or those not participating in gene- or brain-region–specific studies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 (SCA1) is a chronic neurodegenerative condition with cognitive decline. The researchers will study how CAG repeats in the ATXN1 gene affect brain areas like the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum, using mouse models and targeted genetic approaches. They aim to identify cellular and molecular mechanisms driving cognitive symptoms so future therapies can better protect thinking abilities. The work builds on prior findings showing that specific brain cells influence when and how cognitive deficits appear, and seeks to map these effects in living animals. Overall, the project strives to clarify the brain circuits and cell types involved in SCA1-related cognition to guide new treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of the brain changes causing cognitive decline could lead to targeted therapies to preserve thinking abilities in SCA1 patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked specific brain regions and cell types to cognitive deficits in SCA1, with ongoing research suggesting targeted approaches may help.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cvetanovic, Marija — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Cvetanovic, Marija
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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.