How gut health affects metabolism and thinking in Alzheimer's disease.
Influence of gut on metabolism and cognition in Alzheimer's disease.
This study is looking at how the health of your gut might affect memory and thinking skills in Alzheimer's disease, using older rats to see if improving gut health could help slow down cognitive decline.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10896305 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between gut health, metabolism, and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). It focuses on understanding how changes in the gut microbiome may influence cognitive outcomes in an aged rat model of AD. By exploring the gut-brain-axis, the study aims to identify potential therapeutic targets that could help prevent or delay cognitive impairment associated with AD. The research utilizes innovative methodologies to assess the impact of gut health on brain function and metabolic processes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are older adults at risk of or diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Not a fit: Patients with non-Alzheimer's forms of dementia or those without cognitive impairment may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or delaying cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients.
How similar studies have performed: While the gut-brain-axis is a well-studied concept, this specific approach to linking gut health with cognitive outcomes in Alzheimer's disease is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hernandez, Abigail Lynn — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Hernandez, Abigail Lynn
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.