How sepsis-related inflammation affects the aging brain and Alzheimer-type changes
Sepsis and the Systemic Cytokine Storm in Aging and Alzheimer Disease Models
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 ID | NIH-10699633 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future related clinical work would be older adults who have survived sepsis and people with early or prodromal Alzheimer's disease.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Efron, Philip a — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Efron, Philip 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.