# Sleep, Pericytes, and Alzheimer's Disease

> **NIH NIH RF1** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2022 · $1,955,041

## Abstract

Abstract
 This proposal responds to the NIH High-Priority Research Topics announcements for PAR-19-070:
mechanism underlying the vascular risk, sleep efficiency, and chronic circadian disruption in the etiology of
Alzheimer's disease (AD). We are a research group focusing on the brain circuitry of sleep disorder narcolepsy
(caused by loss of the hypothalamic wake-promoting orexin neurons). By following the emerging scientific
evidence on the protective effects of sleep for AD, we propose investigating the intrinsic mechanism involved.
Pericytes, a type of mural cells of the capillary and a key component of the neurovascular unit (NVU), become
our focus because of their unique function in regulating cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the blood-brain barrier
(BBB) permeability. Strong evidence suggests that pericytes malfunction or degeneration contributes to AD
pathology by affecting CBF and breaking down BBB. Intriguingly, similar mechanisms also underlie the
contribution of sleep loss to AD pathology. Thus, we ask whether pericytes are the mediator between sleep
and AD pathology. Improving sleep might delay AD pathogenesis by protecting pericytes and maintaining BBB
integrity. It is the first time that brain pericytes are studied in the framework of sleep and AD. Recent advances
in pericyte research and our latest preliminary data show the feasibility of the approach. This project will have
confirmed the functional correlations among pericytes, sleep, and AD pathogenesis at the end of the funding
period and provided valuable evidence for future pericytes-based therapies for AD and sleep disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10448572
- **Project number:** 1RF1AG077570-01
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Meng Liu
- **Activity code:** RF1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,955,041
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-05-15 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10448572

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10448572, Sleep, Pericytes, and Alzheimer's Disease (1RF1AG077570-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10448572. Licensed CC0.

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