How urolithin A may help reverse heart aging
Official title: Mechanisms underlying reversal of cardiac aging by urolithin a treatment
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-10877344 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a compound called urolithin A might help improve heart health and function as we get older, especially for older adults who may be facing heart-related issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $647,672 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG081395-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10877344 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are experiencing age-related cardiovascular decline.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with pre-existing severe cardiovascular conditions or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of urolithin A on reversing the aging process in the heart. It focuses on understanding how this compound can improve mitochondrial function, which is crucial for maintaining healthy heart performance as we age. The study will involve assessing cardiac function and cellular dynamics in older adults to determine if urolithin A can mitigate age-related cardiovascular issues. Patients may be monitored for changes in heart muscle cells and overall cardiovascular health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that improve heart health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with mitochondrial-targeted therapies in improving heart function in aging populations.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marcinek, David J. — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Marcinek, David J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Understanding how brain resilience and multiple brain pathologies influence aging and Alzheimer's disease
A long-term study follows older adults to learn how resilience to brain changes helps reduce dementia risk and what biological factors are linked to better cognitive aging.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
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.