Advancing Research
by funding Grant Programs and Fellowships
Driving Innovation
by guiding studies such as the FAST Initiative, the SuperAgers Initiative, and the TAME Trial
Furthering the Field
by supporting the infrastructure of three NIA Initiatives and leading the Amplifying Geroscience Initiative.
Top Breakthroughs driven by AFAR Experts
Delaying Disease by Targeting Aging
Saving Costs by Extending Healthspan
What are the Hallmarks of Aging?
What is Geroscience?
What is the Longevity Dividend?
The proposed study investigates the mechanisms of aging that predispose one to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Dr. Leah Cuddy studies a mutation in the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE1) that has been found and linked to an increased risk for late-onset AD. The link could be related to a raise in blood pressure caused by ACE1, a conversion process this enzyme is known for. However, ACE1 is expressed in all tissues and any of its functions in the brain or periphery could have a role in the development and risk for AD. This study intends to determine the mechanism by which the ACE1 mutation increases the risk of AD. Based on preliminary findings, it is hypothesized that the mutation of ACE1 along with the process of aging leads to neuronal cell death.
