Cellular aging in neurons made from people with Alzheimer's
Official title: Assessing cellular aging in old and rejuvenated neurons from Alzheimer patients
Funded at Salk Institute for Biological Studies · NIH-11297619 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Seeing whether making neurons from patients' skin cells reveals aging-related changes and ways to restore healthier neurons for people with Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 15, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,009,134 |
| NIH project number | 4RF1AG056306-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11297619 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with Alzheimer disease who can provide a skin biopsy or other patient-derived cells would be ideal candidates to contribute samples for this work.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot provide a tissue sample, who have other types of dementia, or who expect an immediate treatment benefit are unlikely to directly benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
What this research studies
Researchers take skin cells from people with Alzheimer's and convert them into neurons that keep signs of biological aging so they can be studied in the lab. They compare 'old' patient-derived neurons with neurons that have been experimentally rejuvenated to find what makes Alzheimer's neurons vulnerable. The team focuses on metabolism and a molecule called PKM2 that seems to drive harmful changes in neuron identity and function. Findings may point to targets for drugs or interventions that protect memory cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets or strategies to restore healthy metabolism and identity in Alzheimer’s neurons, helping guide future treatments.
How similar studies have gone: This builds on recent lab work showing that induced neurons from AD patients keep aging signatures and implicate PKM2, but translating those findings to treatments is still early and unproven in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gage, Fred H — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Gage, Fred H
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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.