Understanding how aging affects brain lipids and their role in neurodegenerative diseases
Official title: Function and metabolism of aging lipids in the brain
Funded at Salk Institute for Biological Studies · NIH-10860786 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how fats in the brain change as we get older and how these changes might affect our thinking and memory, especially in conditions like Alzheimer's, by examining aging mice to find specific fats that could help us understand and possibly treat age-related brain issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,155,695 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1AG086547-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10860786 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults at risk for cognitive decline or those with early signs of neurodegenerative diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute neurodegenerative conditions or those not experiencing age-related cognitive decline may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the changes in lipid composition in the brain as we age and how these changes may contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. By studying aging mice, the researchers aim to identify specific lipids, particularly a novel class called SGDGs, that decrease with age and may promote brain inflammation. The study employs advanced lipidomics techniques to analyze the brain lipidome and seeks to understand the biological activity of these lipids in the context of aging and disease. This could lead to new insights into potential therapeutic targets for age-related cognitive decline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding lipid dynamics in aging, but the specific focus on SGDGs is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saghatelian, Alan — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Saghatelian, Alan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Understanding how brain resilience and multiple brain pathologies influence aging and Alzheimer's disease
A long-term study follows older adults to learn how resilience to brain changes helps reduce dementia risk and what biological factors are linked to better cognitive aging.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
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.