Orexin (hypocretin) and memory and attention in aging
Hypocretin/orexin modulation of cognitive correlates of brain aging
This research looks at whether the brain chemical orexin can help protect or improve memory and attention in older adults and people with Alzheimer-related cognitive decline.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11297539 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about work that explores how orexin, a brain chemical that helps regulate sleep, arousal, and appetite, talks to the cholinergic system that supports attention and memory. Researchers are studying how orexin levels change with age and whether a weaker orexin system may worsen brain inflammation and harm memory-related neurons. The team uses laboratory experiments to trace the connections between orexin neurons and basal forebrain cholinergic cells and to test whether restoring orexin signaling can improve cholinergic function. Their goal is to find biological targets that could lead to treatments to slow or reduce age-related memory and attention problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults experiencing memory or attention problems, including those with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer disease dementia, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People with very advanced late-stage dementia or cognitive problems caused mainly by non-neurological issues (for example, medications or metabolic disorders) may not benefit directly from this line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that protect or improve attention and memory in people with age-related cognitive decline or early Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and some human studies link orexin to sleep, arousal, and inflammation and suggest preclinical promise, but using orexin-targeted approaches to improve cognition in Alzheimer-related dementia is still largely early-stage and novel.
Where this research is happening
Columbia, United States
- University of South Carolina at Columbia — Columbia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fadel, Jim R — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Fadel, Jim R
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 below.