How the brain keeps neurons active to hold memories
Mechanisms of persistent neural activity
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · NIH-11326714
Researchers are learning how brain circuits keep neurons active over time to support memory and thinking, aiming to help people with Alzheimer's and related memory problems.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11326714 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, scientists will train small primates (marmosets) on simple memory tasks while recording brain activity with high-resolution tools like two-photon imaging and multi-electrode recordings. They will combine those detailed recordings with large-scale data analyses and computational algorithms to map how single neurons and neural circuits maintain activity after an event. The focus is on brain circuits that hold information between a cue and an action, processes that are similar to the short-term memory problems seen in Alzheimer's. Although the experiments use animals, the team intends to relate their findings to human brain function to guide future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, or other memory problems who are interested in research that may inform future treatments.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatments or those with conditions not related to memory are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal circuit targets for new therapies to protect or restore memory in Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Related animal and computational studies have suggested mechanisms for persistent activity, but translating these findings to primate brains and human disease remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HUK, ALEXANDER C — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- Study coordinator: HUK, ALEXANDER C
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