Energetic cost of walking and mitochondrial function in aging and Alzheimer’s
Official title: The Energetic Cost of Walking and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cognitive Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease
Funded at Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. · NIH-11433124 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the energy needed for walking relates to brain aging and Alzheimer’s risk in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Piscataway, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $752,582 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG103722-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11433124 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults at risk for cognitive decline or with Alzheimer’s-related conditions who can complete walking assessments and brain imaging.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without cognitive concerns or those unable to participate in imaging or walking tests may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will examine whether how efficiently people walk (how much oxygen they use) is linked to brain changes and cognitive decline in aging and Alzheimer’s disease. The project builds on prior findings that fitter individuals have different brain biomarkers and slower hippocampal atrophy, and it will follow participants over time to see how walking energetics relate to these changes. They will explore potential biological mechanisms behind this relationship and how it might explain why physical activity helps cognitive health beyond just general fitness. The study will use imaging, biomarker data, and longitudinal assessments to map these associations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify a new, measurable target (walking energetics) for interventions to slow cognitive decline and inform personalized activity strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show associations between physical activity, brain changes, and cognitive outcomes, but this project aims to solidify longitudinal links with a novel measure (ECOW).
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
Piscataway, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dougherty, Ryan James — Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
- Study coordinator: Dougherty, Ryan James
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Lipids and brain aging in Alzheimer's disease
Aims to understand how lipids in the body relate to aging of the brain and Alzheimer's disease by studying blood and brain-related lipid patterns.
-
Metabolic clues from lipids in aging and Alzheimer's disease
A lipid-focused research effort is exploring how fat-related molecules influence brain aging and Alzheimer's disease to uncover new ideas for care.
-
Metabolic clues from lipids to understand aging and Alzheimer’s disease
This grant studies how lipids in the body relate to aging of the brain and the risk and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
-
Team science approach to study aging and Alzheimer’s disease with machine learning and functional genomics
A combined team effort will use advanced computer models and brain cell data to understand how aging influences Alzheimer’s disease.
-
Brains aging and Alzheimer’s disease: a multi-scale MRI and biology study
Researchers will combine advanced diffusion MRI and biological data to better understand how aging relates to Alzheimer’s disease in people, aiming to spot early signals that may lead to prevention.
-
Studying how aging and Alzheimer’s affect the front part of the brain using real-time imaging and computer models
Researchers will combine live brain imaging in animals with computer simulations to understand how aging and Alzheimer’s disease change the prefrontal cortex and relate to memory and thinking problems.
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.