Using niacin to activate the brain receptor HCAR2 to reduce tau-related brain damage
Activation of the niacin receptor HCAR2 to mitigate tau pathology
This project uses niacin to activate a brain receptor (HCAR2) to try to slow or prevent tau-related brain damage in people with Alzheimer's and related tau conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330316 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study HCAR2, a receptor found on brain immune cells called microglia, to see how it affects tau protein buildup. They will use mouse models of tau disease and compare animals with normal HCAR2 function to those with HCAR2 turned off to measure effects on tau aggregation and neurodegeneration. The team will test whether giving niacin, which can reach the brain and activates HCAR2, triggers protective microglial responses and reduces disease features in these models. Because niacin is already FDA-approved for other uses, positive lab results could help move toward human studies more quickly.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with early-stage Alzheimer's disease or other tauopathies, or those with biomarkers showing tau accumulation, would be the likely candidates for future clinical testing.
Not a fit: Patients whose symptoms are driven mainly by non-tau causes (for example, vascular dementia or synucleinopathies) or those with very advanced neurodegeneration may not benefit from an HCAR2-targeted approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to a repurposed, widely available medication (niacin) that helps slow tau buildup and disease progression in Alzheimer’s and related tauopathies.
How similar studies have performed: Observational human data link higher niacin intake to lower Alzheimer's risk and prior lab studies show HCAR2 activation can be protective, but HCAR2-directed treatments have not yet been tested specifically in tauopathy clinical trials.
Where this research is happening
Indianapolis, United States
- Indiana University Indianapolis — Indianapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moutinho, Miguel — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Moutinho, Miguel
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 below.