The objective of the current project is to develop new drug therapies to treat cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer's disease. The goal is to treat symptoms such as memory impairment but also to delay the onset of the brain dysfunction that underlies this cognitive decline. The proposed experiments aim to demonstrate the efficacy of a novel muscarinic M1-specific agonist (VU0364572) in treating hippocampal dysfunction in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. The approach will focus on in vivo electrophysiological recordings of many individual hippocampal neurons as a sensitive assay of memory functioning. In addition, the proposed experiments aim to demonstrate the efficacy of VU0364572 in delaying the onset of memory impairments and brain pathology in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Over the two- year period, the proposed experiments are expected to contribute to the training of one graduate student and two undergraduate students.

Public Health Relevance

The objective of the current project is to develop new drug therapies to treat cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer's Disease. The goal is to treat symptoms such as memory impairment but also to delay the onset of the brain dysfunction that underlies this cognitive decline.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21AG042730-01A1
Application #
8583919
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (DDNS)
Program Officer
Refolo, Lorenzo
Project Start
2013-07-15
Project End
2015-04-30
Budget Start
2013-07-15
Budget End
2014-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$231,900
Indirect Cost
$81,900
Name
Emory University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
066469933
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
Galloway, Claire R; Ravipati, Kaushik; Singh, Suyashi et al. (2018) Hippocampal place cell dysfunction and the effects of muscarinic M1 receptor agonism in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Hippocampus 28:568-585
Galloway, Claire R; Lebois, Evan P; Shagarabi, Shezza L et al. (2014) Effects of selective activation of M1 and M4 muscarinic receptors on object recognition memory performance in rats. Pharmacology 93:57-64