Innovative Research
Novel Approaches Conceived in the Laboratory
UCI MIND is committed to defeating Alzheimer’s through innovative research. Some promising work underway includes:
- A proof of concept clinical trial in early Alzheimer’s disease to assess the affect of high doses of nicotinamide (a component of Vitamin B3) on neurofibrillary tangles, a key pathological feature of the disease
- A clinical trial in Mild Cognitive Impairment to determine whether exercise can slow the progression or reduce risk for Alzheimer’s dementia
- Prevention clinical trials targeting beta amyloid, a protein that can accumulate in a person’s brain years before they demonstrate symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease; if the disease is caught early, there just might be a way to prevent it or slow its progression
- Modeling a person’s brain in a dish by reverse engineering donated skin cells into stem cells, which allows researchers to safely and efficiently test potential new treatments