How immune cells in the body versus the brain affect memory loss in aging and Alzheimer's
The role of peripheral versus brain myeloid immunity in the cognitive decline of aging and Alzheimer's disease
Researchers are comparing whether immune cells in the blood or immune cells in the brain drive memory loss in older adults and people with Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11297552 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses mouse models of aging and Alzheimer's to separate the effects of immune cells that live in the brain (microglia) from those that circulate in the body (peripheral myeloid cells). Scientists will use bone marrow transplants and related techniques to swap or alter peripheral immune cells while leaving brain cells unchanged, and will also manipulate microglia independently. They will measure memory and cognitive behavior as amyloid accumulates and as the animals age, and examine inflammatory and molecular changes in brain and blood. The goal is to determine whether changes outside the brain, inside the brain, or both drive age- and Alzheimer-related cognitive decline.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be older adults or people with Alzheimer's disease who want new treatment approaches, although this grant mainly supports laboratory animal research and does not appear to be enrolling patients now.
Not a fit: People without age-related cognitive problems or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets either in the body or the brain for therapies to prevent or slow memory decline in aging and Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: Human genetics and prior microglia-focused research have linked myeloid cells to Alzheimer's, but directly separating peripheral versus brain myeloid roles is a relatively new and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andreasson, Katrin I. — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Andreasson, Katrin I.
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.