X chromosome differences and Alzheimer's in men and women
Sex Differences in Epigenetic Parent-of-X Origin and Alzheimer's Disease
Researchers are looking at how differences in the X chromosome between men and women might change Alzheimer's disease risk and progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11297515 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, scientists will use mouse models and brain cells grown in the lab to study how genes on the X chromosome affect Alzheimer’s-related proteins and cell health. They will apply genetic and epigenetic tools to turn specific X-linked genes on or off and watch how that changes disease markers. The work compares males and females to understand why having two X chromosomes sometimes changes vulnerability to Alzheimer's. The aim is to find X-linked pathways that could eventually lead to sex-aware prevention or treatment ideas.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for any related human work would be older adults with Alzheimer's disease, people with early memory symptoms, or those with a family history of Alzheimer’s who can engage with researchers at UCSF.
Not a fit: People who are young and healthy or those expecting immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal X-linked biological targets that lead to new, sex-informed approaches to prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous mouse and cell studies suggest X-chromosome gene dose can alter Alzheimer's-related toxicity, but translating these findings to people remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dubal, Dena Bou — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Dubal, Dena Bou
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.