Noradrenaline, sleep, and thinking in older adults with insomnia
Official title: Noradrenergic Dysregulation, Sleep and Cognition in Older Adults with Insomnia
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11142673 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will see whether lower noradrenaline activity is linked to poorer sleep and thinking in older adults with insomnia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,725,842 |
| NIH project number | 4RF1AG081520-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11142673 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with chronic insomnia who are concerned about memory or thinking changes would be the best fit for this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without insomnia, those with advanced dementia, or those whose sleep issues are caused by other diagnosed sleep disorders may not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would take part if you are an older adult with insomnia and agree to physiological monitoring and cognitive testing. The team will measure noradrenergic activity over a 24-hour period and record brain sleep signals such as slow oscillations and wake after sleep onset. You will also complete memory and thinking tests so researchers can compare sleep and noradrenaline patterns with cognitive performance. The goal is to understand whether lower daytime noradrenaline relates to worse sleep quality and thinking skills.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify biological links between insomnia and thinking problems and point to new targets to protect sleep and cognition in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have connected noradrenergic activity with sleep and cognition, but applying continuous 24-hour measurements in older adults with insomnia is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zee, Phyllis C. — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Zee, Phyllis C.
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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.