Alpha-Ketoglutarate and brain blood flow to support memory in older adults
Official title: Alpha-Ketoglutarate: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy to Improve Neurogliovascular Coupling and Cognitive Aging in Older Adults
Funded at University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr · NIH-11439618 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in older adults will test whether a natural compound called alpha-ketoglutarate can improve brain blood flow and memory performance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $214,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG103782-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11439618 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults experiencing age-related memory decline or cognitive aging, without major comorbidities that would preclude participation.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy younger individuals or older adults without memory concerns may not experience direct benefits from this trial.
What this research studies
As we age, the brain’s blood flow and the signals between brain cells can become less effective, contributing to memory problems. This project explores whether alpha-ketoglutarate can reduce oxidative stress in brain cells and improve neurogliovascular coupling, a key process that matches blood flow to brain activity. Researchers will use existing clinical and cellular approaches to measure changes in brain blood flow and cognitive tasks after AKG exposure in older adults. If successful, this work could point to a new, accessible approach to support memory in aging.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help maintain or improve cognitive function and daily memory in older adults by improving brain blood flow.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data in aged animals show improved NGVC function and cognition with targeted treatments, supporting potential translational value.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
Oklahoma City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yabluchanskiy, Andriy — University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
- Study coordinator: Yabluchanskiy, Andriy
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Understanding how brain resilience and multiple brain pathologies influence aging and Alzheimer's disease
A long-term study follows older adults to learn how resilience to brain changes helps reduce dementia risk and what biological factors are linked to better cognitive aging.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.