# Investigating Peripheral Circadian Rhythm Synchrony in Alzheimer's Disease

> **NIH NIH K99** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2020 · $12,263

## Abstract

Sleep abnormalities have long been known to be a feature of neurodegenerative disorders and in some
cases are considered a core manifestation of the disease. Patients with Alzheimer's disease exhibit disruptions
of daily (circadian) sleep-wake rhythms, but it is unclear whether this reflects a primary disorder of internal
circadian timekeeping and whether disruption contributes to symptoms and progression. It is largely assumed
that disrupted sleep-wake rhythms are caused by the dampening of rhythms driven by the suprachiasmatic
nucleus (SCN), a light-sensitive `master' circadian pacemaker responsible for synchronizing rhythms to the 24
h light-dark cycle. Alternatively, Alzheimer's pathology may be disrupting internal synchrony, between the SCN
and other brain regions, organs, and tissues.
 To evaluate whether the internal synchrony of circadian rhythms is affected by Alzheimer's disease, we
will measure the synchrony between standard and novel markers of circadian rhythms in (1) young healthy
adults, (2) healthy elderly adults, and (3) patients with mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease. Together these
aims will establish whether internal misalignment is a biomarker of Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Brianne Kent's strong background in research of circadian rhythms, cognition, and
neurodegenerative disease provides her with the expertise to tackle this project. The K99 phase will provide
her with essential training to study human circadian rhythms with a team of leading experts. She will be greatly
assisted by her primary mentor Dr. Steven Lockley, who has extensive experience measuring circadian
rhythmicity in humans under both laboratory and real-world conditions and is one of the few researchers
examining internal synchrony. The Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham and Women's
Hospital and Harvard Medical School have an exceptional training record and is the ideal program for
continuing Dr. Kent's training.
 In addition to research training, the candidate has a detailed career development plan to enable her to
build new skills and transition smoothly to an independent position, while ensuring time is adequately protected
for research. Dr. Kent's goals are to (i) gain formal training in sleep and circadian neurobiological research in
human subjects and (ii) gain further training in grant writing and professional development. Because of the
innovative approach, timeliness, and importance, the proposed research plan should lead to important insights
and publications. The in-depth scientific training and mentorship enabled by the K99/R00 will build upon Dr.
Kent's existing expertise and will open many new research directions for her career as an independent
researcher. The proposed project will grant Dr. Kent the necessary protected time to conduct research and to
learn the requisite skills to achieve her long-term goals of launching an independent research program
dedicated to understanding the neurobiology of Alzheimer's disease and devel...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10268957
- **Project number:** 5K99NS109909-03
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Brianne A Kent
- **Activity code:** K99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $12,263
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-30 → 2020-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10268957

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10268957, Investigating Peripheral Circadian Rhythm Synchrony in Alzheimer's Disease (5K99NS109909-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10268957. Licensed CC0.

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