Understanding aging brain memory systems in rats and what it means for people with memory changes
Official title: Cognition & Hippocampal/Cortical Systems in Aging
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11335804 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Johns Hopkins program studies how aging affects memory by looking at a rat model, with findings that could point to new ways to help people with age-related memory problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 1997 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,501,771 |
| NIH project number | 2P01AG009973-31 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335804 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults at risk for or with early memory changes related to aging or Alzheimer’s disease who could benefit from memory-preserving strategies.
✕Less likely to help
People without memory concerns or those not involved in translational follow-up studies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses Long-Evans rats to explore how the medial temporal memory system changes with age and how those changes relate to memory decline. Researchers study the cellular, circuit, and computational factors that drive mnemonic deficits and also identify mechanisms that help older rats maintain memory abilities. Past work has linked low-dose levetiracetam to memory improvement in certain humans with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, guiding future studies in how age and APOE status influence treatment effects. The aims extend the program by integrating insights from animal models with clinical observations to better understand aging-related memory loss.Overall, the program aims to connect brain mechanisms with potential therapeutic targets to support memory in aging humans, including those at risk for Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could inform new approaches to preserve or improve memory in aging people and those at risk for Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests that modulating hippocampal activity can affect memory in specific human groups, supporting continued exploration of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Knierim, James J — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Knierim, James J
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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.