# The Role of Homeostenosis in Bulbar Function in ALS and Aging

> **NIH NIH K00** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2024 · $95,741

## Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Homeostasis is a feature of all bodily structures and
represents the maintenance of stability within these structures to facilitate optimal functioning. During
aging or with the development of diseases, homeostenosis or a narrowing of the functional reserves
necessary to preserve homeostasis, occurs. The loss of functional reserve in one system leads to the
body depleting other reserve systems to maintain function. Eventually, the continual use and depletion
of multiple reserve systems leads to frailty which greatly affects the ability of the body to function and
makes individuals more susceptible to negative health outcomes. Eating and drinking represent body
functions vital to achieving nutritional homeostasis which is necessary for survival. Dysphagia, or
swallowing impairment, is a threat to maintaining nutritional homeostasis as deficits in swallowing
safety (airway invasion) and efficiency (residue) can lead to malnutrition and dehydration. The loss of
functional reserves has been implicated to contribute to the development of dysphagia in diseases and
in the elderly, however, the dysregulation of homeostatic mechanisms and its’ effect on optimal
swallowing function is not understood. The overarching goal of this fellowship proposal is to investigate
mechanisms of homeostatic dysfunction as it relates to the development of swallowing impairments. In
the F99 phase of this proposed research, I will evaluate the impact of functional reserve depletion in
one structure important for swallowing (the tongue) on swallowing function in individuals with ALS.
Specifically, I will develop a novel lingual pressure protocol to determine patterns of lingual functional
reserve decline in ALS and examine potential relationships between lingual pressure patterns and
lingual reserve depletion with functional aspects of swallowing safety and efficiency. I will also evaluate
whether a critical threshold of homeostenotic lingual functional reserve depletion exists wherein lingual
and swallowing impairments ensue. During the K00 phase, I will move to a complementary laboratory
to investigate swallowing function in the frail elderly with multiple, diminished functional reserves and
evaluate the physiological differences in swallowing function that occur in the frail elderly versus normal
aging. The long-term goal of the proposed work is to generate the knowledge necessary for the future
development of biologically informed therapeutics to target swallowing dysfunction across various
patient populations. The completion of this work will provide important insight into dysregulation of
homeostatic mechanisms and functional reserve in vulnerable populations (ALS and the elderly) and
will yield a novel lingual pressure testing protocol (F99 phase) and characterization of frail swallowing in
the elderly (K00 phase) that will further our understanding of the role of homeostenosis on the vital
functions of eating and drinking.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10895408
- **Project number:** 5K00AG076123-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Raele Donetha Loy
- **Activity code:** K00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $95,741
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10895408

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10895408, The Role of Homeostenosis in Bulbar Function in ALS and Aging (5K00AG076123-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10895408. Licensed CC0.

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