Understanding how aging affects communication between the brain and body
Official title: Systematic Brain-Body Communication and Personalized Aging Trajectories
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-10907888 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how aging affects the way our brain and body communicate, which is important for staying healthy, and it aims to find personalized ways to help people age better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,440,000 |
| NIH project number | 1DP2AT013275-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10907888 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing cognitive decline or those interested in understanding their aging process.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing any cognitive issues or are significantly younger may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the intricate communication network between the brain and body, which is essential for maintaining health and homeostasis. As people age, changes in the brain can disrupt this communication, leading to cognitive decline and physical deterioration. The study employs advanced single-cell sequencing and machine learning techniques to analyze how aging impacts this communication at an individual level, aiming to develop personalized interventions for age-related conditions. By focusing on the cellular mechanisms involved, the research seeks to provide insights that could enhance healthy aging.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to personalized strategies for preventing or treating cognitive decline and other age-related health issues.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding brain-body communication, but this approach using single-cell sequencing and machine learning is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Hongjie — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Li, Hongjie
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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.