How aging brain cells and their interactions drive Alzheimer's and related dementias
Cellular senescence and cell fate/interactions as drivers of Alzheimer's and age-related dementias
Researchers are looking at how aging brain cells and their neighbors lead to Alzheimer's and other age-related dementias to help find new ways to prevent or treat memory and thinking problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Buck Institute for Research on Aging NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Novato, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11384045 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has memory or thinking problems, this program studies how aging brain cells change, die, or enter a harmful 'senescent' state and how those changes affect nearby cells. The team uses human-derived stem cells grown into mini-brains (organoids), detailed protein and metabolism testing, and single-cell and spatial gene mapping to pinpoint which cells and interactions go wrong. They combine lab models, human tissue/data, and advanced computer analysis to link cellular changes to Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The plan is to use those findings to identify targets for new treatments or earlier tests.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, or age-related memory decline who can donate samples or participate in related clinical studies would be most relevant.
Not a fit: People without age-related cognitive problems or whose conditions are not caused by neurodegenerative aging processes may not see direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new treatment targets or biomarkers to slow, prevent, or detect Alzheimer’s and other age-related dementias earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Related research has identified aging-related cell changes and early animal or pilot human studies (for example on senolytic approaches) show promise, but effective, widely used treatments are not yet established.
Where this research is happening
Novato, United States
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging — Novato, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ellerby, Lisa M — Buck Institute for Research on Aging
- Study coordinator: Ellerby, Lisa M
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.