Whether Alzheimer-related brain changes make post-sepsis thinking and mood problems worse
Enhancement of Brain Dysfunction in Sepsis Survivors by Alzheimer’s Disease Neuropathology
This project looks at whether Alzheimer-type amyloid in the brain makes cognitive and mood problems worse for people who survive sepsis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249562 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are using mice that develop Alzheimer-like amyloid and then survive an episode that mimics bacterial sepsis to see what happens in the brain. They will measure immune signals (the complement system), microglial activation, loss of synapses, and changes in brain signaling that relate to thinking and mood. The team will compare mice with and without early amyloid buildup and test whether complement-driven inflammation explains worse outcomes after sepsis. These lab findings aim to point to biological steps that could be targeted to protect thinking and mood after sepsis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who survived bacterial sepsis—especially older adults or those with early Alzheimer-type brain changes—would be the most relevant group for future clinical follow-up or trials based on this work.
Not a fit: Younger sepsis survivors without signs of Alzheimer-type amyloid or people with brain problems from non-sepsis causes may not benefit directly from these findings right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new biological targets to prevent or treat lasting cognitive and mood problems after sepsis.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have linked amyloid and complement-driven microglial synapse loss, but applying that mechanism to sepsis survivors is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singer, Benjamin Herschel — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Singer, Benjamin Herschel
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.