Improving memory in older adults by enhancing brain protein recycling
Official title: Alleviating age-related memory impairment through proteasome stimulation
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-10811380 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how boosting a part of the brain that helps recycle proteins might improve memory problems that come with aging, and it's aimed at older adults who want to enhance their memory and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $429,409 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG081851-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10811380 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, particularly those over the age of 65, who are experiencing memory impairments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing age-related memory issues or who have advanced Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how stimulating the proteasome, a key component in the brain's protein recycling system, can help alleviate memory impairments associated with aging. The study focuses on understanding the neurobiological changes that occur in the brain as people age, particularly in the hippocampus, which is crucial for memory formation. By exploring the relationship between proteasome activity and memory function, the research aims to identify potential therapeutic strategies to enhance cognitive abilities in older adults. Patients may be involved in trials that assess the effectiveness of new treatments designed to improve memory and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly improve memory function in older adults and reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in enhancing cognitive function through proteasome stimulation, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Trask, Sydney — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Trask, Sydney
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding memory problems in temporal lobe epilepsy to help people with epilepsy
A researcher at UCLA is exploring why memory worsens in temporal lobe epilepsy and how we might protect or restore memory for patients.
-
Why low-oxygen episodes in very premature babies can cause memory problems
This work explores whether a brief low-oxygen event around birth changes how hippocampus cells mature and leads to lasting learning and memory problems in babies born very early.
-
Memory problems and seeing things in Parkinson's disease
This project looks at whether changes in the hippocampus explain memory loss and visual hallucinations in people with Parkinson's disease by following them over time with tests and brain scans.
-
Improving memory function in people with Parkinson's disease
This study is all about helping people with Parkinson's disease who are having trouble with memory and daily tasks by teaching them practical tips they can use in their everyday lives to feel more confident and improve their quality of life.
-
Investigating how smell loss relates to memory problems in Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at how problems with smell might be linked to memory issues in people with Alzheimer's disease, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding how these changes happen as we age, with the hope of finding better ways to spot Alzheimer's early.
-
Understanding how low oxygen affects memory in preterm infants
This study looks at how low oxygen levels can affect memory and brain development in preterm babies who have had serious breathing problems, using a mouse model to help understand the long-term impacts on learning and memory.
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.