Dudley Lamming, PhD (pictured above and at upper right), assistant professor, and Matthew Merrins, PhD (pictured at lower right), assistant professor, both of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, have been awarded $1.9M over 5 years (R01 award) from the National Institutes of Health-National Institute on Aging for a proposal entitled, "Comparative analysis of geroprotective interventions in established and novel mouse models of Alzheimer's disease." 

The study will investigate four small molecule compounds that have anti-aging properties by comparing their effects in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.

The compounds are among a group referred to as potential "geroprotectors," due to suggestions that they may delay or prevent age-related disease. "There is growing evidence that these geroprotectors may be able to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease, but significant questions remain," write the investigators. 

Researchers will conduct a comparative study of four geroprotectors in two strains of mice, one mimicking early-onset Alzheimer's disease and the other mimicking late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists will assess impact of the compounds on metabolic health and signaling, glycemic control and glucose metabolism in the brain, mitochondrial dysfunction, and body composition. 

"Not only will we identify geroprotectors for future clinical evaluation, but we will establish an overall approach that will be invaluable for the preclinical evaluation of strategies to reverse or prevent Alzheimer's disease in the future," wrote the investigators.