UCI MIND Receives $18 Million NIH Grant to Establish First Trial-Ready Cohort for LATE Dementia
核心洞察
UC Irvine (搜索) researchers secured an $18 million, five-year National Institute on Aging grant to lead the nation's first comprehensive study of limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (搜索) (LATE (搜索)).
LATE (搜索) affects up to 40% of older adults' brains but remains underrecognized and difficult to distinguish from Alzheimer's disease (搜索) during life due to similar symptoms but distinct pathology.
The multi-center study will recruit participants aged 85 and older to develop diagnostic biomarkers and establish a trial-ready patient cohort for future LATE (搜索) clinical trials.
UC Irvine (搜索)'s Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND (搜索)) has secured an $18 million, five-year grant from the National Institute on Aging to spearhead the nation's first comprehensive study of limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (搜索) (LATE (搜索)), a common but underrecognized form of dementia (搜索) that affects up to 40% of older adults.
The landmark multi-center study will establish the first trial-ready patient cohort for LATE (搜索), addressing a critical gap in dementia (搜索) research. Despite its prevalence, LATE remains challenging to diagnose during life because it mimics Alzheimer's disease (搜索) symptoms while stemming from distinct pathological mechanisms.
Addressing a Critical Diagnostic Challenge
"LATE (搜索) mimics Alzheimer's disease (搜索) in its symptoms yet stems from a distinct pathology. In the absence of reliable biomarkers, distinguishing the two conditions during life remains challenging," said study lead Dr. S. Ahmad Sajjadi, associate professor of neurology in the UC Irvine (搜索) School of Medicine. "This study will advance efforts to develop accurate diagnostic tools for LATE and lay the foundation for recruiting participants into future clinical trials targeting this disease."
The research addresses an urgent medical need, as the high prevalence of LATE (搜索) in older adults highlights the necessity for focused studies and clinical trials specifically targeting this condition.
Innovative Study Design and Methodology
The study will recruit participants who are at least 85 years old from five federally funded Alzheimer's disease (搜索) research centers (ARDC), including UCI MIND (搜索). Participants will undergo comprehensive assessments including clinical and cognitive evaluations, annual MRI scans, blood draws, and bi-annual glucose PET scans to validate existing biomarkers and discover new ones for LATE (搜索).
A particularly innovative component involves ecological momentary assessments (EMA), which are remote digital assessments performed at participants' homes. This approach allows for repeated evaluation of participants' cognition in their natural environment, enabling more realistic assessments of cognitive abilities compared to traditional clinical settings.
The study will also investigate factors affecting participants' willingness to join future clinical trials, providing valuable insights for recruitment strategies in LATE (搜索) research.
Leadership Team and Collaborative Approach
The research is led by a multidisciplinary team of four principal investigators from UC Irvine (搜索)'s Department of Neurology. Alongside Sajjadi, the leadership includes Joshua Grill, Ph.D., director of UCI MIND (搜索); Dr. Ali Ezzatti, an associate professor with expertise in informatics and artificial intelligence; and Crystal Glover, Ph.D., an associate professor specializing in mixed methods and recruitment science.
"Securing this major grant during these challenging times is a testament to the importance of the proposed study and to the outstanding track record of our team at UC Irvine (搜索) and our collaborators," said Grill, noting that the funding comes amid delays and threatened cuts to the National Institutes of Health budget.
Building on Research Excellence
The LATE (搜索) study grant follows UCI MIND (搜索)'s recent $21 million renewal grant from the National Institute on Aging, received just two months earlier to support its Alzheimer's Disease (搜索) Research Center. This combination of funding reinforces UC Irvine (搜索)'s position as a global leader in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias research.
UCI MIND (搜索)'s research strength stems from its collaborative approach, bringing together more than 60 faculty members from over 20 departments across campus. The institute supports collaboration among experts in neuroscience, neurology, psychiatry, pathology, geriatrics, statistics, and public health.
The institute has established itself as a national leader through innovative research initiatives, including being the first to establish dedicated cores for induced pluripotent stem cells and distinctive "special populations" studies focusing on the oldest old and people with Down syndrome.
Community Impact and Clinical Translation
UCI MIND (搜索)'s influence extends beyond laboratory research through extensive community engagement. The institute serves thousands of Orange County residents annually through free educational events and digital resources, establishing itself as a trusted source for brain health information.
The center plays a key role in clinical trials as a site in the NIH-funded Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Consortium and helps lead the IMPACT-AD training initiative for future clinical trial investigators in partnership with USC and other consortium members.
More than 6,000 Orange County residents have joined UC Irvine (搜索)'s Consent-to-Contact Registry, an innovative voluntary database connecting individuals with relevant clinical studies. This initiative has generated over 10,000 referrals, significantly accelerating research pace while providing community members with opportunities to contribute to scientific progress.
"Clinically focused studies are a cornerstone of our mission," Grill explained, "because they bring our research directly into the community – through clinical trials, educational programs and partnerships that empower people to make informed decisions about their brain health."