How brain stem cells stay dormant and healthy as we age
Official title: Molecular mechanisms underlying the preservation of neural stem cell quiescence during aging
Funded at Buck Institute for Research on Aging · NIH-11297611 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why the brain’s stem cells stop making new neurons with age and seeks ways to keep them healthy for people with age-related memory problems like Alzheimer’s.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Buck Institute for Research on Aging NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Novato, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $572,715 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG053268-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11297611 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for related future studies or sample-donation efforts would be older adults, including people with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, willing to provide samples or participate in follow-up clinical work.
✕Less likely to help
People with advanced, late-stage dementia or unrelated medical conditions are unlikely to directly benefit from this basic research in the near term.
What this research studies
From your point of view, researchers are studying the brain’s neural stem cells to understand why they become less able to make new neurons as we get older. They focus on cell energy systems and mitochondrial cleanup (called mitophagy) and use combined gene, epigenetic, and metabolic analyses (multi-omics) to find what changes with age. Experiments use lab-grown cells and animal models and may include comparison with human-derived samples to pinpoint the key genes and pathways involved. The goal is to identify targets that could be used in future therapies to restore neuron formation and support memory and mood in aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to restore the brain’s ability to make neurons and potentially improve memory, mood, or cognitive decline in older adults and people with Alzheimer’s.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lab and animal studies have suggested that targeting metabolism and epigenetic factors can revive aspects of neurogenesis, but translating those findings into proven treatments for people remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Novato, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Webb, Ashley E — Buck Institute for Research on Aging
- Study coordinator: Webb, Ashley E
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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.