Neural circuits behind motivation problems in an Alzheimer’s rat model
Official title: Neural circuits mediating motivation deficits in an Alzheimer's disease rat model
Funded at Rowan University School/osteopathic Med · NIH-11296513 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant investigates why motivation and goal-directed behavior decline in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease, aiming to uncover brain circuits that affect behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rowan University School/osteopathic Med NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stratford, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $526,953 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG092798-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11296513 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who experience apathy, anhedonia, or reduced motivation and could benefit from targeted therapies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or patients without motivational symptoms are unlikely to benefit from this basic rat-model study.
What this research studies
In this project, researchers use a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease to study how brain circuits controlling motivation and the drive to pursue rewards become impaired. They focus on the nucleus accumbens and its connection with the ventral tegmental area, which are important for motivated behavior. By examining how these circuits change as the disease progresses, they hope to identify targets that could help slow or improve motivation-related symptoms in people with Alzheimer’s disease. The work combines behavioral testing with brain analyses to link symptoms to underlying neural changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide future strategies to reduce motivation deficits and improve quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in animal models has linked nucleus accumbens–VTA circuits to motivated behavior, with emerging evidence connecting these pathways to Alzheimer’s-related symptoms.
Where this research is happening
-
Rowan University School/osteopathic Med
Stratford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: West, Elizabeth a — Rowan University School/osteopathic Med
- Study coordinator: West, Elizabeth a
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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.