Lactate and immune cell metabolism in Alzheimer's disease
Lactate as a regulator of Alzheimer's pathology
This project looks at whether changes in brain immune cells and rising lactate levels are linked to Alzheimer’s disease and could point to new ways to protect people with early Alzheimer’s.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330610 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on microglia, the brain's immune cells, and how they change the way they use sugar in early Alzheimer's. The team will combine lab experiments, mouse models, and measurements of brain and interstitial fluid metabolites to track shifts from oxidative metabolism to glycolysis and rising lactate. They will connect these metabolic shifts to amyloid-beta and other Alzheimer’s markers to see if altering metabolic flow changes disease-related damage. Ultimately the work aims to reveal whether targeting metabolism or lactate could slow or prevent progression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with early-stage Alzheimer's, mild cognitive impairment, or positive amyloid biomarkers would be the most relevant future candidates for trials that come from this work.
Not a fit: Those with advanced Alzheimer's or other unrelated forms of dementia are less likely to see direct benefit from this early-stage metabolic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could point to new metabolic targets such as lactate that might slow disease progression or protect brain cells in Alzheimer’s.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has shown altered glucose metabolism and microglial shifts toward glycolysis in Alzheimer's, but directly targeting lactate is a relatively new and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Lexington, United States
- University of Kentucky — Lexington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Macauley-Rambach, Shannon L — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Macauley-Rambach, Shannon L
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 below.