Understanding how aging cells contribute to Alzheimer's and related dementias
Official title: Cellular senescence and cell fate/interactions as drivers of Alzheimer's and age-related dementias
Funded at Buck Institute for Research on Aging · NIH-11099707 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how aging cells in the brain might cause Alzheimer's and other memory problems.
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) | $565,088 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AG066591-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11099707 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation at this stage, but future clinical trials based on these findings would seek individuals with or at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing age-related dementias or Alzheimer's disease would not directly benefit from this specific research focus.
What this research studies
Our bodies naturally accumulate aging cells, called senescent cells, as we get older. These cells can release substances that harm surrounding healthy cells and cause inflammation, which is linked to many age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's. This project aims to understand how these senescent brain cells affect other brain cells, using both human and mouse brain cells grown in the lab, including 3D brain models. We want to identify the specific ways these aging cells contribute to brain decline, which could open doors for new treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat Alzheimer's and related dementias by targeting these aging cells.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of cellular senescence in aging is increasingly recognized, its specific contribution to Alzheimer's and related dementias is a newer area of investigation with promising early findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Novato, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Desprez, Pierre-Yves — Buck Institute for Research on Aging
- Study coordinator: Desprez, Pierre-Yves
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.