How acetylcholine affects thinking in Lewy body dementia
Cholinergic Mechanisms in Lewy Body Dementia
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · NIH-11311359
The team wants to see if loss of acetylcholine signaling in a frontal brain area causes problems with planning and attention in people with Lewy body dementia and related conditions.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11311359 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This research focuses on how buildup of alpha-synuclein and loss of acetylcholine-producing cells in the basal forebrain may lead to thinking problems in Lewy body dementias. Scientists will study how acetylcholine acts through the M1 muscarinic receptor in the medial prefrontal cortex, a brain region important for executive function. The work uses laboratory models of alpha-synuclein pathology and experiments on brain tissue and cells to map changes in cholinergic signaling and neuron function. Findings are intended to connect molecular changes to the cognitive symptoms people experience and point to possible targets for future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, or Parkinson’s disease dementia—especially those experiencing problems with planning, attention, or other executive functions—are the most relevant group for this research.
Not a fit: People without Lewy body–related pathology or those seeking immediate symptom relief are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic-mechanism research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify specific cholinergic targets such as the M1 receptor that might be developed into treatments to improve thinking and executive function in Lewy body dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies link cholinergic loss and M1 receptor function to cognitive control, but applying these findings specifically to alpha-synuclein–related dementias is relatively new and still emerging.
Where this research is happening
GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA — GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MOEHLE, MARK S — UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- Study coordinator: MOEHLE, MARK S
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 below.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia, Alzheimer syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease