Improving brain function in Alzheimer's disease by enhancing new neurons
Official title: Enhancing adult-born neurons to restore brain functions in Alzheimer's disease
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10906982 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring ways to help people with Alzheimer's disease grow new brain cells, which could improve their memory and reduce feelings of anxiety, by using special techniques to stimulate a specific part of the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $714,945 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG084207-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10906982 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and experience cognitive and emotional challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease or those without significant cognitive or emotional symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how to enhance the production of new neurons in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, which is often associated with memory loss and emotional difficulties. The approach involves stimulating a specific brain region to promote the growth and development of these neurons, which may help restore cognitive and emotional functions. By using advanced techniques like optogenetics and chemogenetics, the researchers aim to understand how these enhanced neurons can improve memory and reduce anxiety in Alzheimer's patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly improve memory and emotional well-being for patients with Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results in enhancing neurogenesis in healthy brains, but this approach in Alzheimer's disease is still being explored and is considered novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Song, Juan — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Song, Juan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how brain activity changes may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression in a mouse model
Researchers are testing how changes in brain signals and protein cleanup processes affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
-
Thiamine-boosting therapy for Alzheimer’s: understanding how benfotiamine may reduce harmful AGE in DP patients
A medication-based approach using high-dose vitamin B1 (benfotiamine) is studied to help people with Alzheimer's by reducing harmful sugar-related molecules.
-
Non-invasive tears biomarker for early Alzheimer's in LMICs
A low-cost, tear-based biomarker approach aims to detect early Alzheimer’s disease in older adults in Peru and similar settings.
-
Turning APOE4 into protective APOE2 or APOE3Christchurch to help with Alzheimer’s
A patient-facing explanation of a treatment idea that aims to change a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in the brain.
-
Telomerase in Alzheimer’s Disease: how aging biology could influence memory and brain health
Researchers are exploring a new brain-aging mechanism linked to telomerase, with potential to slow or modify Alzheimer’s disease in people and improve cognitive function.
-
Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: Sensory, Motor, and Cognitive Clues
Researchers are testing simple sensory and movement tasks to find early signs of Alzheimer’s disease so they can diagnose and treat people sooner.
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.