Mitochondria, brain circuits, and memory loss in aging
Mitochondrial Energetics, Circuits and Cognitive Decline in the Aging Human Brain
['FUNDING_R01'] · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11297532
This project looks at whether problems with mitochondria and brain networks are linked to memory and thinking difficulties in older adults and people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11297532 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers combine decades of brain scans, memory tests, and detailed molecular analyses of postmortem brain tissue from older volunteers with data from people who have inherited mitochondrial disorders to see how energy problems in cells affect brain circuits. They measure mitochondrial DNA, gene activity, and proteins in specific brain regions and compare those measures to imaging and cognitive performance over time. By integrating these human datasets, the team hopes to pinpoint mitochondrial signatures tied to cognitive decline and identify targets that could be tested in future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include older adults with memory or thinking problems, people with early Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment, and individuals with genetically confirmed mitochondrial disorders.
Not a fit: People without cognitive symptoms or whose problems are due to unrelated or reversible causes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to detect Alzheimer's risk earlier and to new treatments that protect or restore mitochondrial function to slow memory decline.
How similar studies have performed: Previous cohort and molecular studies have linked mitochondrial changes to Alzheimer's, but combining large human multi-omic brain datasets with mitochondrial-disease cohorts to map energetics onto brain circuits is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: PICARD, MARTIN — COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: PICARD, MARTIN
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.