San Antonio team to study baboon brains in search of Alzheimer's clues
Scientists at Texas Biomed and UT Health San Antonio will use spatial proteomics to map molecular changes in aging primate tissue.
By Camila Herrera ·
Researchers in San Antonio are investigating the molecular mechanisms that drive Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that damages memory and thinking but remains without a cure. The study aims to distinguish between normal brain aging and the specific changes that lead to Alzheimer’s, a distinction that could improve early detection and treatment options for the roughly 7.4 million Americans over age 65 living with the disease.
The project is led by scientists from the Texas Biomedical Research Institute and UT Health San Antonio. They will analyze brain tissue from aging baboons at the Southwest National Primate Research Center. Because primate brains share structural similarities with human brains, they serve as a model for studying neurodegeneration. The team will use spatial proteomics, a method for mapping proteins in tissue, to examine what is happening at the molecular level.
The initiative is supported by a $200,000 grant from the San Antonio Medical Foundation. This funding will cover a one-year pilot study. The researchers plan to apply for additional grants to expand the work if the initial data proves promising.
Scientists have long identified beta-amyloid and tau proteins as key markers of Alzheimer’s. Beta-amyloid forms plaques that accumulate in brains often years before symptoms appear. Tau proteins tangle inside nerve cells. However, the exact causal role of these proteins remains debated. Eric Vallender, associate director for research at the primate center, noted that other processes occur in the brain beyond these plaques and tangles. His team is particularly interested in the blood-brain barrier, a cell lining that controls what enters the brain and can degrade with age.
Kimberley Phillips, a psychology professor at Trinity University who also works at Texas Biomed, is focusing on glial cells. These are support cells in the brain that may play a role in neurodegeneration. Adam Salmon, associate director of the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, is studying mitochondria. These cellular structures generate energy, and preserving their function could help maintain cognitive ability.
The study will pair brain tissue samples with cognitive testing and blood biomarkers. This approach allows the team to compare internal biological changes with the metrics currently used to diagnose the disease in humans. Currently, testing is often reserved for patients who already show symptoms, even though the disease process starts earlier.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two Alzheimer’s treatments in 2023 and 2024: Leqembi and Kisunla. Both drugs slow progression in earlier stages by targeting beta-amyloid plaque, but they do not reverse the disease. The San Antonio team hopes to find new targets that allow for intervention before symptoms emerge.
