Understanding brain circuits involved in empathy loss in aging and dementia
Official title: Prefrontal Cortical Circuits in Aging and Frontotemporal Dementia
Funded at Upstate Medical University · NIH-11001648 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a specific brain area affects empathy in people with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), and it hopes to find new ways to help those who are struggling with this condition feel more connected to others again.
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 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $49,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F99NS139550-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11001648 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, particularly those experiencing significant changes in empathy and personality.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other forms of dementia or those without significant empathy-related symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the neural mechanisms behind the loss of empathy in patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), a condition characterized by significant personality changes. Using a mouse model that mimics the disease, the study focuses on the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, a brain region crucial for empathy-driven behaviors. The researchers aim to identify potential therapeutic targets that could help restore empathy in affected individuals. By understanding how the disease progresses and affects brain function, the research seeks to pave the way for new treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that help restore empathy and improve the quality of life for patients with bvFTD.
How similar studies have gone: While research on empathy loss in dementia is ongoing, this specific approach using a poly(GR) mouse model is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in human subjects.
Where this research is happening
-
Upstate Medical University
Syracuse, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kobeissi, Aya — Upstate Medical University
- Study coordinator: Kobeissi, Aya
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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.