Inflammation in the brain's sleep center and sleep problems in aging
Official title: Preoptic/Hypothalamic Mechanisms of Sleep-Wake Regulation
Funded at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System · NIH-11264635 · Data updated 2026-11-12
See if long-lasting inflammation in brain areas that control sleep can cause persistent sleep problems like those seen in older adults and people at risk for Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2021 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005167-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11264635 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People most relevant would be older adults with persistent sleep disturbances, especially those with cognitive decline or elevated risk for Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Younger people with short-term insomnia or sleep problems clearly due to lifestyle factors (jet lag, shift work, acute stress) are less likely to benefit directly from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will use mouse models that mimic aging and prolonged peripheral inflammation to track sleep patterns over weeks to months and look for lasting sleep disruption. They will trigger inflammation with agents such as LPS and compare young and aged animals to map when sleep problems appear. After monitoring sleep, they will examine the preoptic and hypothalamic brain regions for immune-cell activation and molecular changes, including ABCA1, ATE1, cholesterol buildup, F-actin, and caspase-3. The work aims to connect specific cellular and molecular changes caused by chronic inflammation to long-term sleep disturbances.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to biological targets and strategies to prevent or treat chronic sleep problems in older adults and possibly reduce Alzheimer's-related risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies have shown inflammation can disrupt sleep, but linking durable sleep changes to the specific molecular pathways (like ABCA1 and ATE1) and to aging-related effects is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
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VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alam, Noor — VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Alam, Noor
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.