Understanding how the dentate gyrus changes during learning and its link to Alzheimer’s disease
Official title: Dynamic Properties of a Dentate Gyrus Associative Circuit Implicated in Learning and Disease.
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-11516626 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists study how a brain region called the dentate gyrus helps us learn, and how changes in this area might contribute to Alzheimer’s-related dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $641,061 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS149182-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11516626 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease dementia or related dementias may benefit from insights into memory-formation mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
✕Less likely to help
This research is focused on basic mechanisms in a brain region and may not translate to immediate patient therapies.
What this research studies
This project aims to uncover the cellular and synaptic changes in the dentate gyrus, a key hippocampal input region, as learning occurs. By focusing on hilar mossy cells and their interactions with granule cells, researchers hope to understand how experiences reshape memory circuits. The study will examine molecular, synaptic, and cellular mechanisms that could be altered in brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Findings could illuminate why memory processing goes awry in dementia and point toward targets for future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of memory circuits could inform future treatments or early interventions for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that dentate gyrus circuits influence memory and pattern separation, supporting a path toward therapeutic insights, though the exact mechanisms remain challenging.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Castillo, Pablo E — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Castillo, Pablo E
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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.