Alzheimer’s disease is associated not only with cognitive decline but also with changes in how the brain produces energy and uses oxygen. In a study published in Neurophotonics, researchers combined two-photon autofluorescence and phosphorescence lifetime imaging to examine both processes in the living brains of an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model. The team used the natural fluorescence (autofluorescence) of NAD(P)H to assess simultaneously mitochondrial metabolic activity and an oxygen-sensitive probe to measure oxygen levels in cortical blood vessels. Compared with healthy mice, the Alzheimer’s model showed a higher proportion of protein-bound NAD(P)H, indicating altered mitochondrial metabolism, along with lower vascular oxygen levels. Together, the findings suggest that changes in cellular energy production and oxygen use are closely associated in the Alzheimer’s disease model. The study also demonstrates how combined optical measurements can help researchers investigate these interconnected aspects of brain physiology in living tissue.

Upstate Medical University has received $1.5 million in state funding as part of the SUNY Brain Institute, a $10 million collaborative effort to strengthen neuroscience research across SUNY campuses. The investment will expand New York’s capacity to study Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and other age-related brain disorders by connecting researchers, specialized equipment, and advanced research infrastructure. At Upstate, the funding will support development of patient-derived stem cell and brain organoid models that more closely replicate human disease, helping researchers better understand disease progression and evaluate potential treatments. The initiative is designed to accelerate discovery, foster collaboration across institutions, and address the growing burden of neurological diseases on New Yorkers as the population ages.

In a study published in Neuron, scientists at Gladstone Institutes discovered that specialized rhythm-keeping cells called parvalbumin (PV) interneurons generate these brain rhythms by taking precise turns firing. But in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, this delicate coordination collapses, causing memory waves to falter.

Researchers were able to restore the function of neurons linked to cognitive function and information processing in mice that mimic key features of Alzheimer’s disease, showing early promise for the development of a similar targeted therapy in humans.