How infections and aging may speed up Alzheimer's
The Role of Viral Exposure and Age in Alzheimer's Disease Progression
Researchers will see whether repeated viral infections and older age make Alzheimer's-related brain changes and memory loss happen faster, which could matter for people at risk for or living with Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322752 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team uses an established Alzheimer's mouse model (3xTg-AD) to give animals repeated viral exposures at different ages and then compares outcomes. They will measure memory-related behavior, hallmark brain changes of Alzheimer's, and how brain cells process energy and metabolites. By comparing younger versus older animals and tracking metabolic changes after infection, they aim to pin down whether infection burden and age interact to accelerate disease processes. The work is laboratory-based at Tulane University and focuses on biological mechanisms that could point to prevention or treatment ideas.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although this is preclinical work, ideal human candidates for future related research would be people with early Alzheimer's or those at higher genetic risk who are willing to donate samples or join follow-up clinical studies.
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer's or those with very advanced disease are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this animal-based research right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal whether preventing or treating infections or targeting infection-linked metabolism might slow Alzheimer's progression in people.
How similar studies have performed: Some epidemiological and animal studies suggest higher infection burden links to worse cognition, but using repeated viral exposure across ages to test metabolic mechanisms in Alzheimer's is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
New Orleans, United States
- Tulane University of Louisiana — New Orleans, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zwezdaryk, Kevin John — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Zwezdaryk, Kevin John
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.