Understanding and reversing abnormal brain activity in Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Identifying the mechanistic role of and reversing aberrant neural activity in Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11539323 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how unusual brain activity contributes to Alzheimer’s and test ways to reverse it to help people with the condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00AG080110-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11539323 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease, who may benefit from future therapies derived from understanding brain activity mechanisms.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage or non-Alzheimer’s conditions may not directly benefit from this specific mechanism-focused work.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced brain imaging and precise perturbations in animal models to study how abnormal neural activity drives Alzheimer’s symptoms and progression. By examining single neurons and networks at high resolution, researchers hope to uncover causal links between brain activity and cognitive decline. The goal is to identify targeted interventions that can restore normal activity and improve memory in Alzheimer’s disease models, with potential pathways toward human therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new targets and strategies to slow or reverse cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that modulating neural activity can influence pathology in animal models, but causal mechanisms in AD require further validation.
Where this research is happening
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University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ho, Theodore Terence — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Ho, Theodore Terence
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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.