Understanding Memory Changes in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
Official title: From functional to dysfunctional neural network dynamics underpinning memory storage and retrieval across young adult and aged mice
Funded at George Mason University · NIH-11170438 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to discover how brain activity and chemical signals change with age, leading to memory problems like those seen in Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Mason University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fairfax, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $216,740 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AG087912-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170438 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is most relevant to individuals experiencing age-related memory decline or those affected by Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose memory issues are not related to aging or Alzheimer's disease may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
What this research studies
We want to understand how the brain's memory networks change as we get older and how these changes contribute to memory loss, a key feature of Alzheimer's disease. Our team will observe brain activity and the role of a chemical messenger called acetylcholine in mice as they learn and remember. We will also create a detailed computer model of brain circuits to simulate these processes, helping us pinpoint exactly what goes wrong. This work will help us understand the root causes of memory decline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a deeper understanding of how memory loss occurs in aging and Alzheimer's, potentially leading to new ways to prevent or treat these conditions.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific combination of detailed experimental data and a full-scale spiking neural network model of hippocampal CA3 is quite advanced, similar approaches using animal models and computational modeling have been successful in advancing neuroscience.
Where this research is happening
-
George Mason University
Fairfax, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dannenberg, Holger — George Mason University
- Study coordinator: Dannenberg, Holger
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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.