How alcohol and aging drive inflammation linked to Alzheimer’s and dementia
Neuroinflammatory GeroMiRs and Alcohol: Defining Mechanisms of ADRD
Finding out how alcohol use may increase brain inflammation and memory loss in people aged 65 and older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11332580 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient’s perspective, researchers aim to understand why drinking harms older brains more than younger ones by studying age-related inflammation called inflamm‑aging. They will examine brain immune cells (microglia) and small regulatory RNAs called GeroMiRs to see how alcohol changes inflammatory responses. The team will use lab models and tissue or biospecimen analyses to trace how alcohol exposure leads to unresolved inflammation and damage in aging brains. The goal is to pinpoint molecular signals that could be targeted to protect thinking and memory in older adults who drink.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People aged about 65 and older who drink alcohol or who have early Alzheimer’s-related cognitive concerns would be most directly relevant to this line of research.
Not a fit: Younger adults, people without alcohol exposure, or those without dementia risk factors are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify biological targets to prevent or slow alcohol-related worsening of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows age and alcohol both raise brain inflammation and affect microglia, but focusing on GeroMiRs as mediators of alcohol‑related dementia is a newer, more experimental approach.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smathers Mccullough, Rebecca Leanne — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Smathers Mccullough, Rebecca Leanne
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.