Understanding Sleep, Body Clocks, and Protein Buildup in Brain Diseases
Untangling the bidirectional relationship between the spread of pathological protein aggregates, sleep, and circadian clock disruption in neurodegenerative disease
This project explores how sleep problems and disruptions to our natural body clock might contribute to the spread of harmful proteins in brain conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11193782 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people with brain conditions like Alzheimer's disease experience problems with misfolded proteins that spread throughout the brain, causing damage. We know that sleep problems and disruptions to our natural body clock are common in these conditions and might even make them worse. This project aims to figure out if these sleep issues cause the proteins to misfold and spread, or if the misfolded proteins disrupt sleep, or if both happen in a cycle. We believe that understanding how our cells clean up these proteins, a process called autophagy, is key to finding new ways to help.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to understand disease mechanisms relevant to individuals with or at risk for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.
Not a fit: Patients not affected by neurodegenerative diseases or related sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases by targeting sleep, circadian rhythms, or cellular cleaning processes.
How similar studies have performed: While the link between sleep, circadian rhythms, and neurodegeneration is increasingly recognized, this specific investigation into their bidirectional relationship and the role of autophagy is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Fort Collins, United States
- Colorado State University — Fort Collins, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Woerman, Amanda L. — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Woerman, Amanda L.
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.