Leveraging brain resilience to reduce cognitive decline in aging
Official title: Leveraging insights from cognitive resiliency to mitigate cognitive dysfunction in aging�
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11335809 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Johns Hopkins team is studying how aging changes key brain circuits and how boosting inhibitory signals could help protect memory in older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 1997 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $558,953 |
| NIH project number | 2P01AG009973-31 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335809 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease or with age-related memory decline who could participate in future translational studies or biomarker assessments.
✕Less likely to help
People without age-related cognitive changes or without access to the study’s specific biomarker or intervention methods may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at why some people age with better thinking and memory by focusing on brain circuits in the hippocampus. Researchers have found that imbalances in excitatory and inhibitory signals may drive age-related memory problems and that strengthening inhibitory control can improve cognition. The work builds on prior findings in both animal models and human studies to understand the molecular players that keep brain circuits balanced as we age. A central focus is the protein NPTX2 and its role in supporting inhibitory interneurons to maintain hippocampal function, with plans to test strategies that could help those with genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The aim is to translate circuit-level insights into approaches that preserve memory and reduce dementia risk in aging populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new strategies to maintain memory and reduce dementia risk in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in animals and humans supports the idea that inhibitory circuit mechanisms contribute to aging-related cognitive changes, with some encouraging translational findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Branch, Audrey Eileen — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Branch, Audrey Eileen
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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.