How inflammation-linked metabolism affects memory loss in aging and Alzheimer's
Official title: Metabolic mechanisms of cognitive decline in aging and AD mediated by inflammatory PGE2 signaling
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11456950 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looking at whether blocking an inflammatory signal outside the brain can fix immune-cell metabolism and help memory 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 | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $615,747 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG080742-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11456950 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with age-related memory decline or people with early-stage Alzheimer's who are interested in inflammation-targeting approaches would be the closest candidates for related future trials.
✕Less likely to help
People with very advanced dementia or whose cognitive decline is driven mainly by non-inflammatory causes may be unlikely to benefit from peripheral EP2-targeting approaches.
What this research studies
This work looks at how a body chemical called prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and its EP2 receptor change immune cell metabolism and promote memory loss with age and in Alzheimer's. Researchers use mouse models of aging and Alzheimer's pathology and drugs that block EP2 only in the body to see if fixing immune cells outside the brain reduces brain inflammation and improves hippocampal function. They will measure immune-cell glucose use and mitochondrial function, markers of brain inflammation and Alzheimer-like changes, and memory performance. The goal is to learn whether targeting peripheral inflammation could restore memory without needing drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to treatments that improve memory by targeting peripheral inflammation without requiring drugs to enter the brain.
How similar studies have gone: Prior mouse studies showed that deleting or blocking EP2 in immune cells reduced inflammation and rescued memory, so this builds on promising preclinical results.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andreasson, Katrin I. — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Andreasson, Katrin I.
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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.