Understanding how sleep problems affect thinking in older adults
Official title: Noradrenergic Dysregulation, Sleep and Cognition in Older Adults with Insomnia
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-10804350 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how trouble sleeping might affect thinking and memory in older adults, and it wants to find out if changes in the body's nervous system play a role in this connection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $684,924 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG081520-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10804350 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above who experience insomnia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have insomnia or are younger than 65 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between insomnia, sleep quality, and cognitive function in older adults. It focuses on how changes in the autonomic nervous system, particularly noradrenergic activity, may influence sleep and cognitive abilities. By measuring sleep patterns and cognitive performance, the study aims to uncover the biological mechanisms linking insomnia to cognitive decline. Participants will undergo assessments to evaluate their sleep quality and cognitive function over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for improving sleep and cognitive health in older adults, potentially reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease-related dementias.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the relationship between sleep quality and cognitive function in older adults, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zee, Phyllis C. — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Zee, Phyllis C.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Noradrenaline, sleep, and thinking in older adults with insomnia
This project will see whether lower noradrenaline activity is linked to poorer sleep and thinking in older adults with insomnia.
-
Cognitive behavioral therapy and trazodone for insomnia phenotypes with high blood pressure
A clinical study tests how CBT-I and the sleep drug trazodone work for adults with insomnia and high blood pressure, focusing on a specific sleep duration pattern.
-
Cognition After War: A new {HCAP} for older adults and their children
A study will create a standardized cognitive test battery for older veterans and their midlife children to understand how early-life war exposure might influence dementia risk.
-
Cognition After War: A New, Harmonized Cognitive Check for Older Adults and Their Children
A new program will create a standardized set of cognitive tests and study how early-life war experiences might raise dementia risk in older adults and potentially affect their midlife children.
-
Cognition After War: A New, Harmonized Cognitive Test Series and ADRD Risk Study for Older Adults and Their Children
A study will create a harmonized set of cognitive tests and look at how early-life war exposure may relate to dementia risk in older adults and their midlife children.
-
Cognition after war: a new, harmonized brain-health check for older adults and their children
A new plan will create a harmonized set of cognitive tests and study how early-life war exposure might influence later dementia risk in older adults and their midlife children.
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.