Exercise-linked muscle signals that protect the aging brain and Alzheimer's
Exercise-Associated Signaling Against CNS Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
This work tests whether boosting muscle protein-clearance systems, like those activated by exercise, can protect the aging brain and slow Alzheimer's disease.
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 ID | NIH-11380362 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use mice engineered to boost muscle proteostasis to see whether those muscle changes improve memory and reduce Alzheimer-like brain changes. They also analyze muscle tissue and gene activity from people with Alzheimer's to identify muscle-derived factors (myokines) that change with disease. The team measures brain inflammation, protein aggregates linked to Alzheimer's, and cognitive performance in animal models while searching blood and muscle for candidate therapeutic molecules. Findings aim to connect exercise-driven muscle biology to concrete targets that could be tested in people later on.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer’s disease or older adults at risk of cognitive decline might be the kinds of individuals whose muscle samples or future clinical trials would be relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients with non-Alzheimer forms of dementia or those with very advanced disease are less likely to see direct benefit from these preclinical studies in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new treatments that mimic exercise-driven muscle signals to protect the aging brain and reduce Alzheimer's pathology.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal work, including the investigators' mouse models, has shown brain and memory improvements from enhancing muscle proteostasis, but translating this to human treatments remains novel.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cortes, Constanza Javiera — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Cortes, Constanza Javiera
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 below.