Award
National Institute on Aging 5R01AG069227-05
Disambiguating natural aging from Alzheimer's disease through changes in oral neuromechanics
Recipient
University of Washington
Award Amount
$1,267,577.00
Ceiling
$1,267,577.00
Awarded
June 12, 2024
Identifier
5R01AG069227-05
NIH grant awarded to University of Washington to study neuromechanical changes in oral sensorimotor networks to distinguish natural aging from Alzheimer's disease, aiming to improve early diagnosis and treatment.
Description
This project aims to investigate the neuromechanical processes underlying healthy aging and pathological aging related to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The research focuses on changes in the orofacial sensorimotor-cognitive neuronal network, using innovative methods such as cortical activity recording from microelectrode arrays in rhesus macaques, 3D tracking of tongue and jaw kinematics, and pharmacological models to induce AD-like impairments. The study will identify neuronal correlates of healthy age-related changes, cortical representations of oral somatosensation following nerve block, and neuronal responses in networks following AD-like impairments. The goal is to differentiate healthy aging from pathological aging, contributing to earlier diagnosis and potential therapeutic interventions.