# Aging and hyperglycemia alter molecular mechanisms and hippocampal oscillations consistent with Alzheimer's disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS · 2020 · $603,788

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss
of memory. Pathological hallmarks of AD include amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaque deposition,
neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) formation and the progressive loss of synapses and neurons. A
growing literature has demonstrated immune activation in the brain, in particular activated
microglia contribute to the onset and progression of AD by facilitating Aβ deposition and NFTs.
There is no known cause for AD, however, several risk factors have been identified in the
development of AD, including diabetes mellitus (DM) and advanced age. Patients with DM have
a 1.5-4 fold increased risk of developing AD. The precise mechanisms by which DM increases the
risk of AD is not known, but DM is associated with immune activation. As DM is more prevalent
in aging populations it is likely these 2 risk factors combine in the pathogenesis of AD. We
hypothesize that elevated inflammatory activation in DM, that is exacerbated by age is the
primary driver of increased risk for AD, given inflammation exacerbates AD pathology. Separate
data indicate the endogenous neurotransmitter GABA is capable of modulating activation of
microglia and immune function and could serve a therapeutic role in DM patients at risk for AD,
as well as AD patients comorbid with DM. In preliminary investigations we have demonstrated
administration of an already FDA approved GABA receptor agonist in a DM animal model
rescues learning and memory deficits, tau phosphorylation (NFT), and immune activation
consistent with AD clinical populations and AD animal model systems.
 The research proposed will provide an opportunity to determine if the elevated inflammation
associated with DM is a major contributor to AD pathology, in both males and females. Further,
the experiments proposed will expand on our preliminary data to include evaluation of network
function disrupted in AD, as well as determine if the rescue is mediated via direct modulation of
microglia. Lastly, the data from the proposed research will elucidate the mechanisms underlying
the rescue of AD related pathology and provide the necessary data to support the repurposing of
an already FDA approved drug for use in a large subset of the AD population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9884190
- **Project number:** 1R01AG062762-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS
- **Principal Investigator:** James M. Hyman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $603,788
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-15 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9884190

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9884190, Aging and hyperglycemia alter molecular mechanisms and hippocampal oscillations consistent with Alzheimer's disease (1R01AG062762-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9884190. Licensed CC0.

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