Understanding a Brain Connection for Alzheimer's Memory
Official title: A 5-HTergic DRN vCA1 circuit and Alzheimer's disease
Funded at Upstate Medical University · NIH-11329189 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how a specific brain connection involving serotonin might 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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $243,987 |
| NIH project number | 4R00AG078903-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11329189 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is for patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia who might benefit from future therapies aimed at improving memory.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Alzheimer's disease or those whose memory loss is due to other causes may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Even with treatments that reduce amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's, memory often doesn't improve much. This project looks at a specific pathway in the brain, connecting the dorsal Raphe nucleus (DRN) with the ventral CA1 (vCA1) region of the hippocampus, which is important for memory. We believe that serotonin, a brain chemical, plays a key role in this connection through a specific receptor. By understanding and potentially targeting this serotonin pathway, we hope to find new ways to help restore memory function in Alzheimer's patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that specifically target memory loss in Alzheimer's disease, potentially complementing existing therapies.
How similar studies have gone: The researcher's previous work has shown that this specific serotonin pathway affects spatial memory in mice, suggesting a promising direction for further investigation.
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.