How brain support-cell fat (ceramide) affects aging and Alzheimer's
Official title: Role of glial sphingolipid ceramide in aging and Alzheimer's disease
Funded at Texas A&m Agrilife Research · NIH-11249652 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing whether buildup of a brain fat called ceramide in support cells contributes to memory loss in older adults and people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m Agrilife Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $499,587 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079320-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11249652 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Alzheimer's disease, related dementias, or older adults with age-associated cognitive decline could potentially contribute samples or join related clinical efforts tied to this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly because this is lab-focused, early-stage research rather than a clinical therapy trial.
What this research studies
This work will measure ceramide levels and the activity of the enzyme sphingomyelinase in both mouse models of amyloid pathology and human Alzheimer's brain samples. Scientists will look at how ceramide accumulates in astrocytes and microglia, and how that buildup may harm oligodendrocytes and myelin. Lab experiments will manipulate ceramide-related enzymes to see how changing ceramide levels affects inflammation and cell vulnerability. The goal is to link these molecular changes to the kinds of brain decline seen with aging and Alzheimer's.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new ways to prevent or slow memory loss by targeting harmful ceramide buildup in the brain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked higher ceramide levels and increased sphingomyelinase activity to aging and Alzheimer's, but translating these findings into patient treatments remains early and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m Agrilife Research
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Jianrong — Texas A&m Agrilife Research
- Study coordinator: Li, Jianrong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Lipids and brain aging in Alzheimer's disease
Aims to understand how lipids in the body relate to aging of the brain and Alzheimer's disease by studying blood and brain-related lipid patterns.
-
Metabolic clues from lipids in aging and Alzheimer's disease
A lipid-focused research effort is exploring how fat-related molecules influence brain aging and Alzheimer's disease to uncover new ideas for care.
-
Metabolic clues from lipids to understand aging and Alzheimer’s disease
This grant studies how lipids in the body relate to aging of the brain and the risk and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
-
Team science approach to study aging and Alzheimer’s disease with machine learning and functional genomics
A combined team effort will use advanced computer models and brain cell data to understand how aging influences Alzheimer’s disease.
-
Brains aging and Alzheimer’s disease: a multi-scale MRI and biology study
Researchers will combine advanced diffusion MRI and biological data to better understand how aging relates to Alzheimer’s disease in people, aiming to spot early signals that may lead to prevention.
-
Studying how aging and Alzheimer’s affect the front part of the brain using real-time imaging and computer models
Researchers will combine live brain imaging in animals with computer simulations to understand how aging and Alzheimer’s disease change the prefrontal cortex and relate to memory and thinking problems.
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.