Understanding Aging, NAD+ Levels, and Alzheimer's Disease
Official title: Senescence, NAD+ decrease and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
Funded at Buck Institute for Research on Aging · NIH-11099709 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how changes in the body's energy (NAD+) and aging cells might contribute to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Buck Institute for Research on Aging NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Novato, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $562,661 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AG066591-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11099709 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is for patients interested in the underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease and potential future therapies that address aging and metabolism.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment options would not directly benefit from this early-stage, basic science research.
What this research studies
Our bodies' energy systems change as we age, and these changes are linked to Alzheimer's disease. This project looks at how restoring NAD+ levels, a key energy molecule, might protect against the disease. We are particularly interested in an enzyme called CD38, which increases with age and consumes NAD+, and how aging cells might trigger its activity in the brain. By studying brain cells from both mouse models and human patients, we hope to uncover how these factors contribute to memory and thinking problems in Alzheimer's.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that target aging processes and energy metabolism to slow or prevent Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous findings suggest that restoring NAD+ levels can protect against disease progression in animal models, indicating promise for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Novato, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Verdin, Eric M. — Buck Institute for Research on Aging
- Study coordinator: Verdin, Eric M.
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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.