Progression profiling of blood and CSF proteomics in aging and Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression is inherently a continuous biological process, yet it has traditionally been characterized using discrete stages. While these categorical frameworks have proven clinically useful, they may obscure the subtle molecular changes in the earliest phases of the disease. This project seeks to address this limitation by developing novel computational methods to model the continuous trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease progression. Going beyond rigid diagnostic boundaries, our approach aims to capture the dynamic and progressive nature of the disease. These methods will be applied to high-dimensional protein data from both blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), enabling us to track how protein phenotypes evolve over time in relation to disease advancement. The primary goal of the project is to detect when and how specific protein signatures evolve along the AD continuum. Special emphasis will be placed on identifying subtle, early-stage blood molecular changes that precede the emergence of hallmark CSF biomarkers. This could provide critical insights into the preclinical phase of AD, where therapeutic interventions may be most effective.

Alzheimer’s disease develops gradually over time, but it is often described in a few stages like early or late disease. While these stages help doctors understand and diagnose the disease, they may miss the small, early changes happening in the body. This project aims to develop new tools to better track how Alzheimer’s progresses in a continuous manner. By studying proteins in both blood and spinal fluid, the project will look for patterns that change as the disease gets worse. A key goal is to find early signs from blood that could help detect the disease sooner and open the door to earlier treatment.