How immune cells in the body versus the brain affect memory loss in aging and Alzheimer's
Official title: The role of peripheral versus brain myeloid immunity in the cognitive decline of aging and Alzheimer's disease
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11297552 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $572,148 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG079131-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11297552 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
People without age-related cognitive problems or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical project.
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.
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 gone: 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 University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andreasson, Katrin I. — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Andreasson, Katrin I.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Addressing Alzheimer’s and related dementias and metal exposure in older adults in Bangladesh
This project looks at how lifetime exposure to metals might influence memory loss and dementia risk in people aged 65 and older in Bangladesh, with the goal of finding early blood biomarkers.
-
Understanding brain fluid spaces in aging and Alzheimer's disease
This project explores how tiny fluid-filled spaces in the brain change as we age and in people with early Alzheimer's disease.
-
Investigating changes in brain fluid spaces related to aging and Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at special spaces in the brain that help remove waste, to see how they change as we age and in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, so we can better understand brain health and find early signs of cognitive decline.
-
Investigating how breathing problems after a stroke affect thinking skills in older adults with Alzheimer's disease.
This study is looking at how breathing problems after a stroke might affect thinking and memory in older adults, especially those with Alzheimer's or certain brain conditions, to find ways to help improve both breathing and brain health.
-
Investigating how immune responses in the body and brain affect cognitive decline in aging and Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at how immune cells in the brain and body affect memory and thinking problems that come with aging and Alzheimer's disease, and it’s for older adults who want to understand more about what might help keep their minds sharp.
-
How COVID-19 infection and genes may influence memory and dementia risk
This study looks at how getting COVID-19 and a person’s genes together affect the chance of developing memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
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.