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Create new research programs aimed at understanding the integrative physiology of circadian rhythms and sleep and its impact on brain aging and the risk of AD and AD-related dementias at multiple levels (epigenetic, gene expression, proteomic, neuronal, network, systems) to identify new targets and approaches for AD prevention.
2023 PAR-18-497: Sleep disorders and circadian clock disruption in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias of aging (R01) PAR-19-070: Research on Current Topics in Alzheimer's Disease and Its Related Dementias (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) RFA-AG-20-040: Oscillatory Patterns of Gene Expression in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-20-164: Mechanisms and consequences of sleep disparities in the U.S. (R01) NOT-AG-21-051: Sleep Disorders and Circadian Clock Disruption in Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementias of Aging 2.F Achieved Create new research programs aimed at understanding the integrative physiology of circadian rhythms and sleep… DN 2015 AD Summit Recommendations: 3J 2018 AD Summit: 5E Blog: Daytime sleepiness linked to elevated brain amyloid News: Sleep disturbances linked to abnormal deposits of certain proteins in the brain News: Disrupted sleep-wake cycle might be measure of preclinical Alzheimer’s Workshop (In Partnership with the Sleep Research Society): Developing Biomarker Arrays Predicting Sleep and Circadian-Coupled Risks to Health Workshop: Neuropathological Impact of Sleep Deficiency and Sleep Disorders Overactive wakefulness neurons disrupt sleep in aging mice Aging disrupts the normal daily fluctuations of immune cell activity Research on Disease Mechanisms Sleep disorders and circadian clock disruption in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias of aging (R01) – 8 funded grants Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) Featured Research Session: Sleep in Alzheimer’s Disease; Molecules, Networks, People Select projects funded in FY21 The role of 24-hour activity cycles in preserving cognitive function and preventing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias Minimizing ICU Neurological Dysfunction with Dexmedetomidine-induced Sleep (MINDDS II) 2016
- Launch at least 12 new projects focused on understanding the short-term and long-term consequences of disrupted/optimized circadian rhythms and sleep on brain aging and dementia and the mechanistic links between sleep/circadian disruption and AD and AD-related dementias to identify new targets and approaches for AD prevention.
Summary of Key Accomplishments
NIA supported 24 projects through three targeted and one general funding initiative, aimed at investigating the role of sleep and circadian rhythms in brain aging and dementia. Most of these projects are focused on elucidating the causal relationships between sleep, tau protein buildup, and amyloid plaque formation in humans and animal models of AD. Some of the projects are using genomic and computational techniques to evaluate the disruption of molecular clocks within various disease pathways. Several are investigating health disparities linked to differences in sleep and circadian rhythms, with the goal of enabling evidence-based interventions that address sleep as a modifiable risk factor for AD/ADRD.
Older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias recovering from heart surgery may experience postoperative delirium (POD), which is often left untreated. Findings from a pilot study of adults older than 60 years titled Minimizing ICU Neurological Dysfunction with Dexmedetomidine-induced Sleep showed that administration of dexmedetomidine intravenously at night significantly reduced the incidence of POD. Through a pragmatic clinical trial, researchers are gathering additional evidence to support the use of nighttime dexmedetomidine through the veins or by mouth to treat POD on a broader scale. The trial will explore POD prevention and cognitive improvement among older adults after heart surgery by administering dexmedetomidine during the night, and will also examine patient-reported outcomes, morbidity, and mortality. The study will also develop a biorepository to assist with identifying biomarkers for POD and cognitive recuperation following cardiac surgery.
The key accomplishments summary is current as of September 2025.