Clusterin Glycosylation for Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease

The goal of this project is to develop Clusterin glycosylation biomarkers for early, sex-specific detection of Alzheimer’s disease.

Clusterin (CLU) is recognized as the third major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and our research examines how alterations in the sugar structures on the Clusterin protein could signal the disease’s onset and differ between males and females. By employing cutting-edge mapping techniques, we aim to improve early detection and understand the progression of Alzheimer’s. Our goal is to spearhead the development of personalized diagnostic tools and treatments that account for individual biological differences.

This project is innovative in its ability to characterize the site-specific glycosylation structure of Clusterin, overcoming key limitations of conventional approaches that lose critical molecular detail. It links precise glycosylation patterns to disease progression to enable earlier and more accurate detection. Incorporating sex-specific differences in Clusterin glycosylation will improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

The successful completion of this project will link Clusterin glycosylation to Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis and deliver glycosylation-based biomarkers for early detection. It will enable sex-specific diagnostic applications and provide new glycoform-based targets for therapeutic development in Alzheimer’s disease.