Higher norepinephrine production in aging brains
Official title: Upregulated Norepinephrine Synthesis Capacity in Aging
Funded at Brandeis University · NIH-11303424 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are measuring whether remaining brainstem nerve cells make more norepinephrine in older adults and people with early Alzheimer’s-related tau changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brandeis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waltham, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,382,890 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG074330-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11303424 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults, including those with mild cognitive impairment or early signs of Alzheimer’s-related tau changes.
✕Less likely to help
Children and people without age-related brain changes or Alzheimer’s-related tau pathology are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will focus on a tiny brainstem area called the locus coeruleus (LC) that helps control attention and memory. They will measure LC structural health and markers of norepinephrine production in older adults and people with Alzheimer’s-related tau to see whether surviving neurons increase norepinephrine as a protective response. The team will relate these brain measures to memory, attention, and signs of tau-related pathology to learn whether upregulation helps preserve thinking or affects disease spread. Visits are likely to include imaging and biological tests at the research site.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to support brain resilience and slow Alzheimer’s-related decline by targeting norepinephrine systems.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have reported increased norepinephrine metabolism in aging and Alzheimer’s, but using that finding to protect cognition or stop tau spread remains a new area of research.
Where this research is happening
-
Brandeis University
Waltham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Berry, Anne Shively — Brandeis University
- Study coordinator: Berry, Anne Shively
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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.