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Sleep-dependent mechanisms of improving cerebral blood flow and reducing Alzheimer's disease progression by photobiomodulation with near-infrared light

Award Number: R01AG081809
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/15/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2028

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Sleep-dependent mechanisms of improving cerebral blood flow and reducing Alzheimer's disease progression by photobiomodulation with near-infrared light - Brain photobiomodulation (PBM) using near-infrared (NIR) light is a promising new approach for treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Despite the high interest in using PBM to treat AD, its application is currently hindered by the insufficient understanding of the mechanisms of NIR light actions in the brain. Additionally, NIR-I light (650-900 nm) has not achieved clinical significance due to its insufficient penetration into the brain tissue. We hypothesize that the key mechanisms underlying treatment properties of NIR light in AD include the activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the brain, increase of nitric oxide (NO) production by endothelial cells, vasomotion, increase of glymphatic flow, and reduction of amyloid β load and tau pathology. Further, we hypothesize that these mechanisms can be markedly enhanced by the pulsation of NIR-II light (1000-1700 nm) at a low frequency during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Our specific aims are designed to test the key elements of this hypothesis. We plan to test that NIR light treatment is most efficient when it is delivered in NIR-II window and during NREM sleep (aim 1), that the rate of NIR light stimulation rather than its duration determines the efficiency of the PBM treatment in AD (aim 2), and that eNOS is the key mediator of therapeutic effects of NIR light in AD, whereas neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is not (aim 3). Thus, we propose a series of translational studies that are aimed to improve our understanding or the role of NIR light in reducing the AD pathology as well as to identify the way of NIR light delivery that is most efficient in treating AD.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $689,892 )
2025	2025	BOSTON VA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	2 AVENUE DE LAFAYETTE	BOSTON	MA	02111	SUFFOLK	USA	Aging Research	001	3	6/17/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$56,319
2025	2025	BOSTON VA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	2 AVENUE DE LAFAYETTE	BOSTON	MA	02111	SUFFOLK	USA	Aging Research	000	3	3/6/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$633,573
														Subtotal = $689,892

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $715,152 )
2024	2024	BOSTON VA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	2 AVENUE DE LAFAYETTE	BOSTON	MA	02111	SUFFOLK	USA	Aging Research	001	2	6/12/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$71,515
2024	2024	BOSTON VA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	150 S HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02130	SUFFOLK	USA	Aging Research	000	2	1/29/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$643,637
														Subtotal = $715,152

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $669,096 )
2023	2023	BOSTON VA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.	150 S HUNTINGTON AVE # 151B	BOSTON	MA	02130	SUFFOLK	USA	Aging Research	000	1	5/4/2023	NEW	$669,096
														Subtotal = $669,096

Grand Total All Awards = $2,074,140

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Sleep-dependent mechanisms of improving cerebral blood flow and reducing Alzheimer's disease progression by photobiomodulation with near-infrared light

Award Number: R01AG081809

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/15/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2028

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