The WNK1/OSR1 protein pathway's role in brain insulin use and age-related memory loss
Official title: WNK1/OSR1 axis in Hippocampal Insulin Signaling, Glucose Metabolism and Age-related Cognitive Dysfunction
Funded at University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr · NIH-11479058 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will see if the WNK1/OSR1 protein pathway makes the aging brain use insulin and sugar less well and whether fixing that can help memory in Alzheimer’s-related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Worth, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,999 |
| NIH project number | 4R00AG075161-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11479058 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, or age-related memory decline would be the likely candidates for any future clinical trials based on this work.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with very advanced dementia or memory loss caused primarily by stroke, brain injury, or non-Alzheimer’s conditions may not benefit from findings focused on hippocampal insulin signaling.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will use lab experiments and mouse models of Alzheimer’s to study how the WNK1/OSR1 proteins affect insulin signaling and glucose uptake in the hippocampus, a brain area important for memory. They will look at molecular steps such as AKT signaling and GLUT4 trafficking, manipulate WNK1/OSR1 activity, and measure effects on glucose use by neurons. The team will also test whether these changes relate to memory performance in the mice. Results are meant to reveal mechanisms linking brain insulin resistance to age-related cognitive decline and point toward targets for future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new targets to improve brain insulin use and protect memory in people with age-related cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies link brain insulin resistance to Alzheimer’s, but targeting the WNK1/OSR1 pathway and its effect on neuronal GLUT4 trafficking is a newer and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr
Fort Worth, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jaykumar, Ankita Bachhawat — University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Jaykumar, Ankita Bachhawat
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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.