Immune cell aging and metabolism as a target for Alzheimer's treatment
Official title: Metabolic Control of T Cell Senescence in Pathogenesis and Immunotherapy of Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11336890 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether aging immune cells called T cells and their fat-related metabolism drive Alzheimer's and whether changing them could point to new treatments for people with AD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $388,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG078822-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11336890 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be older adults with early Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment and people willing to provide blood samples or enroll in observational testing at the study site.
✕Less likely to help
People without AD, those with non-AD causes of dementia, or individuals unable to travel to the research site may not receive direct benefit from participation.
What this research studies
From a patient's viewpoint, researchers are examining how aged or 'senescent' T cells—immune cells found in higher numbers in people with Alzheimer's—may encourage the buildup of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. The team will study blood and tissue samples from people with AD, use human neuronal cells in the lab, and use mouse models to trace how T cell metabolic changes and a pro-inflammatory secretory profile (SASP) affect neurons. They will test whether altering T cell metabolism or blocking harmful secreted factors reduces protein aggregation and neuronal damage. The goal is to find immune-based approaches that could be developed into treatments to protect memory and slow disease progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new immune-targeted therapies that slow or prevent Alzheimer's progression by reversing or blocking harmful T cell aging effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory studies have linked senescent immune cells to increased amyloid and tau accumulation, but translating these findings into proven human treatments remains novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peng, Guangyong — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Peng, Guangyong
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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.