How FIU scientists are shaping the future of brain health
In the heart of Miami, a city celebrated for its culture, resilience, and innovation, a new discovery is offering hope against one of the world’s most devastating diseases: Alzheimer’s. Researchers at Florida International University (FIU), led by Dr. Tomás R. Guilarte, have uncovered how a tiny brain biomarker called TSPO could help detect Alzheimer’s years—even decades—before symptoms such as memory loss begin to appear.
This is not just another medical breakthrough—it’s a story of global collaboration rooted right here in Miami. And for our community in Little Havana and across the metropolitan area, it highlights the critical role South Florida continues to play in advancing science with worldwide impact.
TSPO: A window into the brain’s future
Dr. Guilarte, dean of FIU’s Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, has dedicated more than 30 years of his career to studying TSPO, a protein linked to brain inflammation. In Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders, inflammation is often one of the earliest warning signs. What Guilarte’s team discovered is groundbreaking: TSPO begins to rise in the brain long before memory loss, confusion, or other symptoms appear.
To reach these results, the FIU team used genetically engineered mice carrying a mutation for early-onset Alzheimer’s. Using advanced imaging software, they tracked changes in TSPO levels across the brain. Their findings were then confirmed using human brain tissue generously donated by families in Antioquia, Colombia—families who carry the “paisa” mutation, a rare hereditary condition that causes Alzheimer’s in people as young as their 30s.
Even more striking, the researchers discovered that women consistently showed higher TSPO levels than men, mirroring real-world statistics where nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients are women. This raises critical questions: Is TSPO harmful, accelerating the disease? Or could it actually be protective, part of the brain’s defense system? Understanding this will be key to designing new therapies that either block or boost TSPO in order to slow progression.
Global impact, local pride
While this research is international in scope, its roots in Miami are a source of pride for our community. FIU, with its strong ties to Latin America, has become a bridge between world-class science and the families whose donations of brain tissue make this progress possible.
Dr. Andrés Villegas Lanau, professor at the University of Antioquia and coordinator of the Neurobank that provided the tissue, emphasized the families’ role: “They donated their loved ones’ brains in the hope of advancing knowledge and helping future generations. Discoveries like this are the result of their generosity.”
For Miami’s large Hispanic and Colombian communities, this collaboration is deeply personal. It reflects the values of family, resilience, and community service that define so much of life in Little Havana and beyond.
Looking ahead, Guilarte and his team are expanding their research to study the much more common late-onset form of Alzheimer’s, which accounts for more than 90% of cases worldwide. If TSPO proves to be a reliable early marker in these cases as well, doctors could one day use brain scans to identify at-risk individuals decades before symptoms—and even intervene to delay or prevent the disease.
Imagine the impact: delaying Alzheimer’s by even five years could drastically improve quality of life for patients and families, while also reducing the enormous social and economic costs associated with the disease.
Alzheimer’s has touched countless families across Miami, from Little Havana to Doral, Coral Gables, and beyond. The work being done at FIU shows that hope is on the horizon, fueled by the dedication of scientists like Dr. Guilarte and the selflessness of families in Colombia who chose to turn their personal losses into opportunities for future generations.
It’s another reminder that Miami is more than beaches and nightlife—it’s a hub of innovation, culture, and resilience. Our city continues to shape the future in ways that resonate across the globe.
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