How temperature-sensing brain cells control fat and metabolism
Official title: Metabolic Changes: Connecting temperature sensing neurons to sympathetic adipose tissue stimulation
Funded at Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr · NIH-11172409 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how temperature-sensing nerve cells in the brain communicate with fat tissue and change hormones like leptin, which could affect people with Alzheimer's and metabolic conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baton Rouge, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $456,251 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AT011683-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11172409 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Alzheimer's disease, memory problems, obesity, or metabolic conditions may be the most interested in the potential implications of this work.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking an immediate treatment or whose health issues are unrelated to metabolism or neurodegeneration may not see direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
From my point of view, the team is mapping the brain cells that sense temperature and tracking the nerves that connect to fat tissue to see how those signals change leptin levels. They will use advanced 3D imaging, genetic tools, and molecular analyses in lab models and tissue samples to identify the exact neural circuits involved. The researchers will test how activating or blocking these pathways alters leptin production and other metabolic signals. The work aims to reveal how these pathways might intersect with processes linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other metabolic disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to normalize leptin and metabolic signals that may slow or prevent metabolic contributions to Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies show that sympathetic activation of fat lowers leptin, but pinpointing the temperature-sensing neural circuits and linking them to Alzheimer’s is a relatively new and developing area.
Where this research is happening
-
Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr
Baton Rouge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Muenzberg-Gruening, Heike — Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr
- Study coordinator: Muenzberg-Gruening, Heike
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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.