Understanding brain causes of apathy in Alzheimer's and related dementias using brain imaging and stimulation
Investigating neuroanatomical underpinnings of apathy in ADRD through neuroimaging and electrical manipulation
This project will learn whether brain shrinkage and activity explain apathy in people with Alzheimer's and related dementias and whether targeted brain stimulation can quickly change motivation in Parkinson's patients getting DBS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11135348 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have brain scans and behavioral tests that measure how you respond to rewards and effort to see what drives low motivation. Researchers will compare people with Alzheimer's, related dementias, and Parkinson's to link specific brain changes to apathetic behavior. Parkinson's patients already scheduled for deep-brain stimulation (DBS) will be tested to see if changing stimulation alters goal-directed behavior right away. The team aims to identify the brain circuits behind apathy so future treatments can be more precisely directed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who show noticeable apathy, and Parkinson's patients scheduled for subthalamic nucleus DBS.
Not a fit: People without neurodegenerative disease or whose low motivation is mainly due to medication side effects, untreated depression, or non-brain causes may not benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to brain-based targets and treatments to reduce apathy and improve daily motivation and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous imaging studies have linked frontal and subcortical changes to apathy and DBS can change behavior in some Parkinson's patients, but combining imaging, reward-effort testing, and direct DBS manipulation across these groups is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vanegas-Arroyave, Nora — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Vanegas-Arroyave, Nora
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.