Carol Anne Colton

Dr. Colton's research has centered on the study of chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. These diseases have a neuroinflammatory component involving the innate immune system in the CNS. Dr. Colton was among the first scientists to demonstrate that microglia are CNS macrophages and, like other tissue macrophages, respond to injury in the CNS by "killing" invading organisms. Microglia then help to orchestrate the "repair" process after injury. Recent research has focused on the regulation of microglial reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species production as well as other cytoactive macrophage products that are made during the classical and alternative activation states associated with chronic neurodegeneration. Knowledge gained from the basic research program has been translated to the development of novel and extremely useful mouse models of Alzheimer's disease that enable pre-clinical testing of basic mechanisms and of potential therapeutics.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor in Neurology · 2025 - Present Neurology, Translational Brain Sciences, Neurology

Professor in Pathology · 2020 - Present Pathology, Clinical Science Departments

Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences · 2011 - Present Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers

In the News

Published June 10, 2015

New Alzheimer’s disease study makes connection to cause

Published April 17, 2015

Carol Colton interviewed: Scientists close in on Alzheimer's cure

Published April 16, 2015

New clue about what causes Alzheimer's disease

View All News

Recent Publications

Dysregulated microvascular reactivity in hippocampus and cortex in CVN Alzheimer's disease mouse model.

Journal Article J Cereb Blood Flow Metab · November 21, 2025 Microvascular reactivity in acute cortical and hippocampal brain slices and hippocampal synaptic- evoked cerebral blood flow (CBF) in vivo were analyzed in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD, CVN). Microvessels underwent initial vasoconstriction (2 µ ... Full text Link to item Cite

Cerebral Blood Flow Responses to Extracranial Alternating Current Brain Stimulation in CVN Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease: A Pilot Study Determining Optimal Dose.

Journal Article Neuromodulation · July 18, 2025 INTRODUCTION: Insufficient metabolic supply in response to neural demand is a key mechanism of degeneration in Alzheimer's disease [AD]. However, extracranial alternating current [AC] stimulation can increase cerebral blood flow [CBF] and metabolic substra ... Full text Link to item Cite

Alzheimer's Disease Protein Relevance Analysis Using Human and Mouse Model Proteomics Data.

Journal Article Front Syst Biol · 2023 The principles governing genotype-phenotype relationships are still emerging(1-3), and detailed translational as well as transcriptomic information is required to understand complex phenotypes, such as the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. For this reas ... Full text Link to item Cite

View All Publications

Recent Grants

Hypoperfusion, Hemodynamic Control Domains and Neurovascular Dysregulation in AD brain pathology

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2023 - 2027

Duke Creating ADRD Researchers for the Next Generation - Stimulating Access to Research in Residency Program (CARiNG-StARR)"

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2026

Cardiac photon counting CT and its application in studying interactions between Alzheimer's and heart disease

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2021 - 2026

View All Grants

Education, Training & Certifications

Rutgers University · 1973 Ph.D.