Microbiome, Sleep, and Thinking in mid-life adults
Official title: Microbiome profiles, sleep, and cognition among mid-life adults
Funded at Florida International University · NIH-11385948 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We’re exploring how sleep quality and gut bacteria may affect thinking abilities in healthy mid-life Hispanic adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida International University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Miami, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $74,980 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD012393-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385948 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults aged 21+ with no dementia who are Hispanic, mid-life, and residing in the South Florida community.
✕Less likely to help
Adults outside the target group or with advanced cognitive impairment may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project looks at how how well people sleep, the makeup of their gut microbiome, and cognitive performance are connected in a community-based group of Hispanic adults in mid-life. It combines cognitive testing with sleep measurements and cortisol samples to understand the sleep–gut–brain relationship. The study builds on early findings suggesting sleep problems can change gut bacteria and may influence thinking, and it specifically includes Hispanic participants living in the community. If successful, it could point to new ways to protect cognition through sleep and gut health. The research is led by Florida International University in Miami and involves a diverse adult population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform lifestyle or therapeutic strategies to preserve cognition by promoting healthy sleep and gut microbiome balance.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests links among sleep, the gut microbiome, and cognition, but few have focused on diverse, community-based Hispanic populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida International University
Miami, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burke, Shanna L — Florida International University
- Study coordinator: Burke, Shanna L
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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.