# Investigating the role of ApoE4 and amyloid beta in susceptibility to neurologic complications after brain radiotherapy

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2021 · $466,776

## Abstract

Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related neurodegenerative disorders are common causes of progressive cognitive
decline with age. Genetic variants that influence the risk of developing AD are prevalent and could serve as a
biomarker and enable the development of AD-specific approaches that protect neurologic function in the context
of other age-related diseases whose co-morbidities and therapies may compound the neurologic deterioration
that occurs in AD. An important and common co-morbidity in aging individuals is cancer. Using models of AD,
this proposal examines the neurocognitive dysfunction that can develop after receiving cancer therapies directed
to the brain, the mechanisms of which are currently poorly understood. This proposal investigates whether
genetic factors associated with neurodegenerative disease predispose individuals to neurocognitive decline after
brain radiation therapy. The results of this work will identify fundamental relationships between pathogenic
processes underlying AD and neurologic function after cancer therapy that may then be used to develop
strategies that minimize therapy-induced neurocognitive deficits in individuals with AD or at risk for AD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10288163
- **Project number:** 1R21AG073934-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Jean Nakamura
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $466,776
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-30 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10288163

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10288163, Investigating the role of ApoE4 and amyloid beta in susceptibility to neurologic complications after brain radiotherapy (1R21AG073934-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10288163. Licensed CC0.

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