COLBOS (COLombia-BOSton) is a collaborative project between the Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia and Massachusetts General Brigham, Boston. We work with an extraordinary kindred of approximately 6,000 individuals in Antioquia, Colombia, which contains roughly 1,500 carriers of an autosomal-dominant mutation (PSEN1 E280A).  These carriers are genetically determined to develop early onset Alzheimer’s disease, with almost 100% certainty, and have a well-characterized disease course, with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) occurring at a median age of 44, and dementia at 49. We collect neuropsychological, biomarker and neuroimaging data from our participants about every two years.

Rita-NGF Biomarker Study

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) is a protein in the brain that plays a key role in keeping nerve cells healthy and supporting their development. Researchers have found that this protein may not work properly in people with Alzheimer’s disease, based on studies of the brain after death. Because of this, NGF might serve as a useful early warning sign—or biomarker—for the disease.

The project is named after Nobel Prize winner Rita Levi-Montalcini, who discovered NGF. Her pioneering work and lifelong advocacy for ethics, education, and women in science inspire our people-centered approach, aiming to make research meaningful for both families and scientists.

In collaboration with Dr. David Aguillón (Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia) and Dr. Claudio Cuello (McGill University, Canada), our research team is exploring whether changes in NGF activity can help detect early signs of Alzheimer’s in people with a genetic mutation (PSEN1) known to cause the disease. We are especially interested in whether NGF levels can tell us apart individuals who carry the mutation but still appear cognitively healthy from those who do not carry the mutation.

We’re also studying how NGF markers relate to brain structure and thinking abilities at the start of the study. Finally, we want to see if these NGF-related changes can better predict future memory decline and brain changes—beyond what current markers like amyloid plaques and early memory tests can show.