How low vitamin B1 (thiamine) affects brain energy and memory
Implications of Metabolic Dysfunction during Thiamine Insufficiency
This project looks at how low vitamin B1 (thiamine) harms brain energy use and contributes to memory loss in people with Alzheimer's disease or age-related cognitive decline.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Georgia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Athens, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11231699 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers will study how thiamine insufficiency disrupts key brain enzymes and energy production that help preserve memory. They will use mouse models, cell experiments, and analysis of human brain tissue to track changes in enzymes (PDH, α-KGDH, TKT) and activation of HIF1α. The team will also examine how these metabolic problems relate to Alzheimer's features like plaque formation, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The aim is to find whether fixing thiamine deficiency or targeting these pathways could lead to treatments or early markers of memory decline.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with mild cognitive impairment, early Alzheimer's disease, or older adults with low blood thiamine levels would be the most relevant participants.
Not a fit: Patients without thiamine deficiency, those with non‑Alzheimer's causes of cognitive problems, or people in very advanced dementia stages are less likely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to simple treatments (like thiamine or related drugs) or new biomarkers to slow or detect early Alzheimer’s-related memory loss.
How similar studies have performed: Previous observational studies link low thiamine with worse cognition and small treatment trials (including thiamine derivatives) have shown mixed but sometimes promising results, while the specific HIF1α‑related mechanisms are relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Athens, United States
- University of Georgia — Athens, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zastre, Jason a — University of Georgia
- Study coordinator: Zastre, Jason a
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.