Gpld1, a blood protein that may boost brain regeneration and memory in aging
Official title: Pro-youthful role of Gpld1 on regenerative and cognitive function in the aged brain
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11325382 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project checks if raising levels of a blood protein called Gpld1 can improve brain cell renewal and memory in older adults and people with Alzheimer's-type dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $635,930 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG077770-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11325382 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be older adults experiencing age-related memory decline or people with early-stage Alzheimer's-type cognitive impairment.
✕Less likely to help
People without age-related memory problems or those with very advanced, late-stage dementia are less likely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying a liver-made blood protein called Gpld1 that was linked to better memory after exercise. In mice, giving Gpld1 improved generation of new brain cells and memory, and the team will see how long those benefits last and whether Gpld1 explains the positive effects of exercise. The project will examine molecular changes in the brain and analyze human blood samples from active older adults to compare Gpld1 levels. The goal is to determine whether boosting Gpld1 could become a way to slow or reverse age-related memory loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that restore brain cell renewal and improve memory in older adults and people with Alzheimer's-type dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies and early human correlations support the idea that exercise-linked blood factors can improve cognition, but direct Gpld1-based therapies remain largely untested in people.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Villeda, Saul a — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Villeda, Saul a
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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.