Cholinergic signals and thinking in Lewy body dementia
Official title: Cholinergic Mechanisms in Lewy Body Dementia
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11579866 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how acetylcholine signaling in a specific brain region affects thinking and memory in Lewy body dementia and related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $64,923 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS132293-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11579866 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease with concurrent α-synuclein pathology may indirectly benefit from advances arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without dementias or without involvement of α-synuclein–related pathology are unlikely to benefit from this project.
What this research studies
The research asks how loss of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain and its influence on the prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex contributes to cognitive problems seen in Lewy body dementias and Alzheimer’s disease. It focuses on the M1 receptors and how acetylcholine modulates the brain circuits that support executive function. The team plans to use existing animal models and human-relevant approaches to study these neural pathways and test potential mechanisms behind cognitive decline. This work aims to map targets for therapies that could preserve or improve thinking skills for people living with these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new strategies to protect or restore cognitive function in patients with Lewy body dementia and related disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Emerging research supports a role for acetylcholine and M1 receptors in executive function; this study builds on those findings in dementia contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moehle, Mark S — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Moehle, Mark S
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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.