How aging and Alzheimer changes turn on viral-like genetic elements in the brain
Brain aging and Alzheimer's related dementias: convergence onto retrotransposons and endogenous retroviruses
This project looks at whether aging and Alzheimer-related brain changes activate viral-like genetic elements that could harm people with or at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321297 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use models that mimic aging and Alzheimer-type brain pathology to measure activity of retrotransposons and endogenous retroviruses and link that activity to DNA damage and brain cell health. They will compare animals with different lifespans and Alzheimer-related changes to see whether higher retrotransposon activity speeds decline. The team will perform tests that reduce or increase these elements’ activity to observe effects on glial toxicity, neuronal survival, and overall lifespan. Findings will be correlated across molecular, cellular, and functional readouts to understand how these elements might drive disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, or older adults at increased risk for Alzheimer-type dementia would be the patient groups most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients without Alzheimer-type neurodegeneration or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new biological targets to slow or prevent Alzheimer's-related decline by blocking harmful viral-like genetic activity.
How similar studies have performed: Early animal studies and analyses of human brain tissue have suggested retrotransposon and endogenous retrovirus activation in aging and neurodegeneration, but translating this into effective treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dubnau, Joshua T — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Dubnau, Joshua T
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.