UC Irvine’s UCI MIND has received an $18 million, five-year grant from the National Institute on Aging to lead a landmark multi-center study on limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE), a neurodegenerative disease that mimics Alzheimer’s but stems from a distinct pathology. Present in up to 40% of older adults, LATE lacks reliable diagnostic tools, making this research critical.
Led by Seyed A. Sajjadi, the study will establish the nation’s first trial-ready cohort for LATE, recruiting participants aged 85+ from five federally funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers. Participants will undergo annual MRIs, blood draws, PET scans, and ecological momentary assessments—remote cognitive tests conducted at home—to identify and validate biomarkers.
The project also includes experts in AI, informatics, and recruitment science, and builds on UCI MIND’s reputation for innovation and community engagement. This grant follows a separate $21 million renewal for UCI MIND’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, reinforcing UC Irvine’s leadership in dementia research and its commitment to improving brain health across diverse populations.