Exercise and Muscle Factors that May Protect the Brain in Alzheimer's Disease
Official title: Exercise-Associated Signaling Against CNS Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11472062 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study from USC looks at how exercising muscles release signals that could help protect the brain from Alzheimer’s-related aging and pathology.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $51,161 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG077536-06S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11472062 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at risk for Alzheimer’s disease who may later participate in translational studies or biomarkers related to muscle-brain signaling (e.g., through observational studies or future trials).
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Alzheimer’s disease or related risk factors may receive indirect insights but are less likely to benefit directly from the specific mechanistic findings.
What this research studies
Researchers are exploring how signals from skeletal muscle, boosted by exercise, influence brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease. They have created a mouse model with higher muscle proteostasis driven by TFEB and will examine whether this improves brain health and reduces Alzheimer’s pathology. The project will also examine how muscle-derived factors observed in people with Alzheimer’s may contribute to brain health and disease processes. By linking muscle biology, exercise effects, and brain aging, the work aims to identify new ways to support cognitive function. The plan includes translating findings from animal studies to understand potential relevance for humans with Alzheimer’s disease or risk factors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify muscle-related pathways or signals that support brain health and slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease, informing new lifestyle or therapeutic strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests exercise benefits brain health and that muscle signals can influence CNS function, supporting the translational potential of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cortes, Constanza Javiera — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Cortes, Constanza Javiera
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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.