NOX2, oxidative stress, and overactive brain networks in Alzheimer's
Official title: Exploring NOX2-Mediated Network Impairment and Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at J. David Gladstone Institutes · NIH-11241118 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking into whether a molecule called NOX2 causes oxidative stress, reduced brain glucose use, and overactive brain networks that may speed memory loss in people with Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | J. David Gladstone Institutes NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $842,175 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG087323-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11241118 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment related to AD who are willing to provide clinical information, participate in biomarker studies, or be considered for future related trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without AD or those with very advanced dementia who cannot benefit from early-intervention strategies are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
This project explores how NOX2-driven oxidative stress may lead to reduced glucose use in the brain and to network overactivity linked with Aβ and Tau buildup. Scientists will use laboratory models together with human-relevant biomarker and clinical data to map how NOX2 activation leads to seizures, network dysfunction, and neuron damage. They will test whether blocking NOX2 activity or calming network hyperactivity can protect neurons and preserve cognitive function. The goal is to connect molecular damage to measurable brain changes that could become targets for early intervention in Alzheimer's.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to reduce oxidative stress and brain overactivity and potentially slow cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed that reducing hippocampal hyperactivity with the drug levetiracetam improved cognition in amnestic MCI patients and animal models, while targeting NOX2 itself is a newer and more mechanistic approach.
Where this research is happening
-
J. David Gladstone Institutes
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zilberter, Misha Yuri — J. David Gladstone Institutes
- Study coordinator: Zilberter, Misha Yuri
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how brain activity changes may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression in a mouse model
Researchers are testing how changes in brain signals and protein cleanup processes affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
-
Thiamine-boosting therapy for Alzheimer’s: understanding how benfotiamine may reduce harmful AGE in DP patients
A medication-based approach using high-dose vitamin B1 (benfotiamine) is studied to help people with Alzheimer's by reducing harmful sugar-related molecules.
-
Non-invasive tears biomarker for early Alzheimer's in LMICs
A low-cost, tear-based biomarker approach aims to detect early Alzheimer’s disease in older adults in Peru and similar settings.
-
Turning APOE4 into protective APOE2 or APOE3Christchurch to help with Alzheimer’s
A patient-facing explanation of a treatment idea that aims to change a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in the brain.
-
Telomerase in Alzheimer’s Disease: how aging biology could influence memory and brain health
Researchers are exploring a new brain-aging mechanism linked to telomerase, with potential to slow or modify Alzheimer’s disease in people and improve cognitive function.
-
Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: Sensory, Motor, and Cognitive Clues
Researchers are testing simple sensory and movement tasks to find early signs of Alzheimer’s disease so they can diagnose and treat people sooner.
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.