Sepsis, aging, and brain changes in Alzheimer's disease models
Official title: Sepsis and the Systemic Cytokine Storm in Aging and Alzheimer Disease Models
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11393549 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how severe infections like sepsis might worsen brain changes linked to aging and Alzheimer’s disease, using mouse models to understand potential impacts on people who might be at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $392,024 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS128626-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393549 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults or individuals at risk for Alzheimer’s disease who could benefit from strategies to reduce brain injury after sepsis (via future trials or related patient-facing interventions).
✕Less likely to help
People without history of cognitive issues or Alzheimer’s risk, or those not exposed to sepsis or aging pathways relevant to the study, may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use aging and Alzheimer’s disease mouse models to explore how the body’s inflammatory response during sepsis affects brain pathology and memory. The study will examine amyloid and tau-related changes and link them to cognitive decline after sepsis, considering both pre-disease and aging populations. By testing age-related differences and sepsis outcomes, the work aims to identify when and how brain health is most at risk after severe infection. The findings could point to strategies to protect cognitive function after infections in older adults and those with early AD changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide approaches to protect brain health after infections in older adults and people with early Alzheimer’s changes.
How similar studies have gone: There is evidence that systemic inflammation influences brain pathology in animal models, but the precise link to sepsis-related cognitive decline and AD pathology remains to be clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Efron, Philip a — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Efron, Philip a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How sepsis-related inflammation affects the aging brain and Alzheimer-type changes
This research looks at whether the strong inflammation from sepsis speeds up Alzheimer-type brain changes or causes lasting thinking problems in older adults.
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How severe infections affect brain health in older adults and those with Alzheimer's disease
This study looks at how serious infections like sepsis might affect brain health in older adults, especially those showing early signs of Alzheimer's, to see if the body's response to infection can lead to more memory problems down the line.
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Immunometabolism and Aging in Sepsis and Sepsis Survivors
This grant explores how metabolism and immune health affect people who have survived sepsis, with the goal of improving long‑term health and reducing future infections.
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Grit and memory protection in aging and early Alzheimer’s disease
Aging adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease may keep sharper thinking if they have grit, and this project explores how motivation and brain signals relate to memory in at-risk older adults.
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How cell-specific DNA elements may drive Alzheimer's disease and aging
Researchers are studying how certain DNA elements that can move around the genome contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and aging, using samples from adults and people with related risk factors.
-
Grit and memory resilience in older adults with early Alzheimer's changes
Learn whether stronger persistence ('grit') and its brain signals help older adults with early Alzheimer's changes keep their memory sharp.
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.