NPY and anxiety link in Alzheimer’s disease modeled in rats
Official title: Prodromal Neuropeptide Y system dysfunction causes hyperexcitable amygdala circuits and anxiety in TgF344-AD rats
Funded at University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr · NIH-11442991 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in an Alzheimer’s disease rat model looks at whether a brain chemical called neuropeptide Y (NPY) helps control anxiety and fear circuits that often occur with the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $644,237 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG105095-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11442991 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient participation; preclinical rat model.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation in this preclinical study.
What this research studies
This project explores why people with Alzheimer’s often feel anxious or fearful, and whether boosting NPY in the brain can calm overactive amygdala circuits. Researchers will use TgF344-AD rats to test how NPY levels affect anxiety-like behaviors and brain activity linked to fear. The work focuses on how estrogen-related changes may influence NPY and anxiety, with the goal of identifying new directions for improving mood and behavior in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Findings could point to new avenues for therapies that reduce anxiety and potentially influence disease progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could inform new strategies to reduce anxiety in Alzheimer’s patients and improve overall quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests NPY plays a role in anxiety regulation, supporting the plausibility of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dobrunz, Lynn E — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Dobrunz, Lynn E
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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.