Targeting a brain circuit to help memory in Alzheimer’s disease
Official title: A 5-HTergic DRN vCA1 circuit and Alzheimer's disease
Funded at Upstate Medical University · NIH-11377146 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study aims to understand a brain pathway involving serotonin that may help improve memory problems in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Upstate Medical University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Syracuse, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,942 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AG078903-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377146 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with Alzheimer’s disease or those at risk, who could participate in future trials testing serotonin-targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Alzheimer’s disease or without memory symptoms may not benefit from this specific circuit-targeted approach.
What this research studies
This project looks at a specific brain circuit linking serotonin-producing neurons to a memory-related area to see how it affects memory in Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers will use models to explore how activating or blocking this circuit changes memory and explore a potential treatment that targets serotonin receptors. The team hopes to identify steps where therapy could boost memory or slow decline in people with AD. The work builds on prior findings that this circuit influences spatial memory and that a serotonin receptor might be a viable target for therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new serotonin-based treatments that improve memory in Alzheimer’s patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies showed that manipulating this serotonin circuit can affect memory in animal models, supporting the potential for human benefit but requiring clinical validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Upstate Medical University
Syracuse, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Hesong — Upstate Medical University
- Study coordinator: Liu, Hesong
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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.