Investigating sleep and fluid movements to develop a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Sleep, breathing, hemodynamic oscillations, and cerebrospinal fluid movements - Building toward a novel treatment approach for Alzheimer's disease
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-10910177 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how sleep and breathing affect the flow of fluid in the brain, especially for people with Alzheimer's, to see if improving sleep could help clear out harmful substances linked to the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $229,151 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AG077461-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10910177 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or exhibit symptoms of cognitive decline.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other forms of dementia unrelated to Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the relationship between sleep, breathing, and the movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain, particularly in the context of Alzheimer's disease. It aims to understand how sleep deficiencies may affect the clearance of neuro-metabolic waste, such as beta-amyloid and tau proteins, which are linked to Alzheimer's progression. By quantifying CSF movement during sleep and its connection to other biological signals like hemodynamic oscillations and breathing, the study seeks to identify potential interventions that could slow down the disease's progression. Patients may be monitored for their sleep patterns and CSF dynamics to gather valuable data.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to novel treatment strategies that slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by improving waste clearance in the brain.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of linking CSF movement to sleep and Alzheimer's is relatively novel, there is emerging evidence suggesting that improving sleep quality may have beneficial effects on cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tong, Yunjie — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Tong, Yunjie
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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.