Sleep spindles as markers for aging, Alzheimer's, and Down syndrome
Official title: Sleep Spindle Dynamics as a Clinical Biomarker of Aging, Alzheimer's Disease, and Trisomy 21
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11463474 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aging, Alzheimer's disease, and Down syndrome may each change how sleep spindles behave, and this study aims to map those patterns to help identify biomarkers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $831,903 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG079917-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11463474 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults and older adults, including individuals with Alzheimer's disease and those with Down syndrome, who can undergo sleep EEG testing.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without sleep disturbances or those unable to complete sleep EEG assessments may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will build a mathematical framework to describe how sleep spindles – brief bursts of brain activity during light sleep – vary in people of different ages, including those with Alzheimer's disease and trisomy 21. They will analyze sleep EEG data from a large, diverse group of thousands of individuals to establish normal ranges and patterns. By comparing these patterns to disease groups, the team hopes to uncover spindle-based markers that could aid diagnosis or tracking of disease progression. The work is designed to translate complex sleep data into understandable signals for clinicians and patients. Results could lead to better biomarkers and earlier, more precise monitoring of neurodegenerative conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This research could yield sleep-based biomarkers that help diagnose or monitor Alzheimer's disease and aging-related changes earlier and more accurately.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have found that sleep spindles relate to memory and aging, but this project seeks to systematically characterize spindle variability across diverse populations, which is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prerau, Michael J — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Prerau, Michael J
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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.