MSU researchers receive $4M grant to study possible dementia triggers

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Dementia and Alzheimer's disease are a growing concern for future generations, and Michigan State University plans to use a $4 million grant to learn more about the debilitating diseases.

The university announced Wednesday that researchers with the department of psychiatry and the Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and Human Medicine received the grant from the National Institutes of Health .

Their goal is to study the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and related dementia and three variables: vitamin D deficiency, gut microbial imbalance and inflammation.

"In humans, vitamin D supports immune function and regulates thousands of genes via the vitamin D receptor, which can be found on many tissues, organ systems and cells," the university said in a statement .

"Cognitive decline is a natural part of aging, but vitamin D deficiency accelerates neuron cell death and progression ... by producing inflammation and oxidative potential. Gut microbial imbalance, which also worsens with age, can accelerate Alzheimer's disease and related dementia through the gut-brain axis."

According to MSU, 7% of older people live with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia, and that figure grows as people age.

"This prevalence doubles every five years and, in people over 80, reaches 30% to 40%," the university stated.