Studying how aging and Alzheimer’s affect the front part of the brain using real-time imaging and computer models
Official title: Integrating Experimental and Computational Models to Study the Prefrontal Microcircuit Changes During Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at University of Wyoming · NIH-11537707 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will combine live brain imaging in animals with computer simulations to understand how aging and Alzheimer’s disease change the prefrontal cortex and relate to memory and thinking problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wyoming NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Laramie, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $716,648 |
| NIH project number | 4R33AG087909-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11537707 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with aging-related cognitive concerns or Alzheimer’s disease who may later benefit from therapies informed by microcircuit targets.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without cognitive symptoms or those whose condition is unrelated to prefrontal cortex microcircuit changes may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses real-time calcium imaging in awake animals to watch microcircuits in the prefrontal cortex as they age and as Alzheimer’s disease develops. The team will build computational models and apply neural decoding techniques to connect what is seen in imaging with how networks behave. By merging empirical data with simulations, they aim to identify the primary brain changes and how the brain compensates over time. The goal is to link microcircuit alterations to cognitive symptoms and identify potential intervention points.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal targets for therapies that preserve prefrontal function and slow cognitive decline in aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Existing imaging and modeling work supports that microcircuit changes relate to cognitive decline, and this study extends those methods to aging and AD.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wyoming
Laramie, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Yun — University of Wyoming
- Study coordinator: Li, Yun
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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.