Brain changes after stroke: how aging and tongue exercises affect swallowing
Official title: Neuroplastic mechanisms of dysphagia following stroke: Effects of aging and tongue exercise treatment
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11365463 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study from UW–Madison looks at why swallowing trouble after stroke persists, and whether age and tongue exercises can help restore swallowing more than just using tricks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $614,993 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD119580-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365463 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have experienced a stroke and have dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) and are within the eligible age range studied by the project.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have post-stroke dysphagia or do not meet the study’s inclusion criteria may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you’ve had a stroke and have trouble swallowing, this research explores how brain and muscle changes influence recovery, especially as people age. The project will examine the brain pathways involved in swallowing and how they adapt after stroke, along with how tongue exercises might boost true recovery rather than only compensating. Researchers plan to study these processes in the lab and potentially translate findings into better rehabilitation approaches for older patients. The goal is to identify targeted ways to improve oral-motor function and reduce long-term care needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective swallowing therapies that improve quality of life and independence after stroke.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows plasticity in swallowing-related brain pathways can support recovery, but more is needed on corticobulbar plasticity and age effects.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cullins, Miranda Jane — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Cullins, Miranda Jane
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
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This project looks at how the timing between breathing and swallowing may contribute to chronic swallowing problems in people who had an ischemic stroke.
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Aging immune reactions to released mitochondria worsen thinking and memory after stroke
This project explores whether age-related immune changes make mitochondria released after stroke trigger inflammation that worsens thinking and memory in older stroke survivors.
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.