How specific acetylcholine receptors in a hippocampus region affect memory stability
CRCNS: Role of mAChRs on CA 1 pyramidal neurons in memory formation and stability
Researchers are looking at whether activating certain muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on hippocampal CA1 neurons helps form and keep memories, with relevance to aging and Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Max Planck Florida Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jupiter, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11094832 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on a type of acetylcholine receptor (muscarinic receptors) found on CA1 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus and how they shape memory-related brain activity. The team will manipulate these receptors in preclinical models while recording hippocampal activity during navigation and memory tasks, using cell-type-specific tools to turn receptor signaling up or down. They will track internally generated sequences of neural activity to see how receptor changes affect the formation and long-term stability of memory codes and related behavior. Results are meant to reveal circuit-level mechanisms that decline with aging and in Alzheimer's disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, or age-related memory decline would be the most relevant groups for future therapies informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose memory problems come from non-hippocampal causes or non-cholinergic forms of dementia may not benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify specific receptor targets to guide new treatments that strengthen memory circuits affected by aging and Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research links cholinergic loss to memory decline and shows modest benefits from broadly boosting acetylcholine, but targeting muscarinic receptors on specific CA1 neuron types is a relatively new, mostly preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
Jupiter, UNITED STATES
- Max Planck Florida Corporation — Jupiter, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Yingxue — Max Planck Florida Corporation
- Study coordinator: Wang, Yingxue
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.