How sepsis-related inflammation affects the aging brain and Alzheimer-type changes
Official title: Sepsis and the Systemic Cytokine Storm in Aging and Alzheimer Disease Models
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-10699633 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether the strong inflammation from sepsis speeds up Alzheimer-type brain changes or causes lasting thinking problems in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $739,450 |
| NIH project number | 4R01NS128626-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10699633 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future related clinical work would be older adults who have survived sepsis and people with early or prodromal Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
People with advanced dementia or younger individuals without cognitive risk factors are less likely to see direct benefit from this research in the near term.
What this research studies
The team is using aged and young mouse models that mimic Alzheimer-related brain changes and survivable sepsis to see how a systemic 'cytokine storm' affects amyloid, tau, and cognition. They will trigger sepsis (for example with cecal ligation and puncture), compare outcomes across ages and Alzheimer-model mice, and measure brain pathology and behavior. Viral AAV tools will be used to modify immune or brain pathways to help pinpoint mechanisms. The goal is to explain why some sepsis survivors develop long-term cognitive decline and whether aging or preclinical Alzheimer changes increase vulnerability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent or treat long-term cognitive decline after sepsis in older adults and people with early Alzheimer's changes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous human and animal research links systemic infection and inflammation to worsened cognition and increased Alzheimer's pathology, but using aged models and AAV tools to trace mechanisms is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Efron, Philip a — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Efron, Philip a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Sepsis, aging, and brain changes in Alzheimer's disease models
This project studies how severe infections like sepsis might worsen brain changes linked to aging and Alzheimer’s disease, using mouse models to understand potential impacts on people who might be at risk.
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How severe infections affect brain health in older adults and those with Alzheimer's disease
This study looks at how serious infections like sepsis might affect brain health in older adults, especially those showing early signs of Alzheimer's, to see if the body's response to infection can lead to more memory problems down the line.
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Immunometabolism and Aging in Sepsis and Sepsis Survivors
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Grit and memory protection in aging and early Alzheimer’s disease
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Researchers are studying how certain DNA elements that can move around the genome contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and aging, using samples from adults and people with related risk factors.
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Grit and memory resilience in older adults with early Alzheimer's changes
Learn whether stronger persistence ('grit') and its brain signals help older adults with early Alzheimer's changes keep their memory sharp.
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.