Mitochondria and Thinking in Aging Brains: How Energy Rooms Affect Memory in Alzheimer’s
Official title: Mitochondrial Energetics, Circuits and Cognitive Decline in the Aging Human Brain
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11413806 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how mitochondrial energy in the aging brain relates to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease in people and in people with mitochondrial DNA disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 2, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $773,543 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG076821-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413806 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults at risk for or living with Alzheimer’s disease, and individuals with inherited mitochondrial DNA disorders.
✕Less likely to help
People without aging-related cognitive concerns or mitochondrial disorders may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study brain energy production in aging adults, using data from large brain and cognitive studies and a dedicated group with inherited mitochondrial DNA disorders. They will combine brain imaging, cognitive tests, and postmortem analyses to understand how mitochondrial function changes relate to memory and thinking skills in Alzheimer’s and aging. A transdisciplinary team will integrate genetic, protein, and cellular measurements to map how mitochondrial pathways influence brain networks. The goal is to identify mitochondrial clues that connect energy supply to cognitive decline in at-risk individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could point to new targets to protect brain energy and slow cognitive decline in aging and Alzheimer’s.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work with ROSMAP and MITO cohorts has linked mitochondrial changes to brain pathology and cognition, showing a promising line of inquiry.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Picard, Martin — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Picard, Martin
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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.