Understanding why some brain regions and cells accumulate tau in Alzheimer’s and related diseases
Official title: Molecular Drivers of Regional and Cellular Vulnerability to Tau Accumulation and Neurodegeneration
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11617738 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying why certain brain areas and neuron types accumulate tau protein in Alzheimer’s and related conditions, and how this leads to brain changes and symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $705,600 |
| NIH project number | 2R56AG063819-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11617738 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease dementia or related tauopathies, including atypical forms like Posterior Cortical Atrophy, and individuals willing to provide brain tissue samples or participate in stem-cell based studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without tau-related neurodegenerative disease are unlikely to directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project uses human brain tissue, stem cell–derived neurons, and a tau mouse model to explore why excitatory neurons in regions like the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus are more vulnerable to tau than inhibitory neurons. It will examine the role of MEF2C and other molecular factors, using advanced methods such as TRAP, single-cell sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics to compare typical Alzheimer's disease with Posterior Cortical Atrophy. The study also includes innovative in vitro assays with MEF2C knockout neurons to understand regional vulnerability and resilience. Findings could reveal targets to protect specific brain regions from tau pathology and improve outcomes for people affected by tau-related neurodegenerative diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Gaining a clearer map of vulnerable brain regions and cell types could lead to new strategies to slow or prevent tau-related brain degeneration.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has identified regional vulnerability patterns and candidate regulators like MEF2C, with ongoing studies exploring their roles.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pereira, Ana C. — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Pereira, Ana C.
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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.