# Sleep Quality and Human Amlyoid-Beta Kinetics

> **NIH NIH K76** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $155,742

## Abstract

Project Summary:
Dr. Brendan Lucey, MD is a highly-motivated physician-scientist with a strong interest in sleep, aging, and
neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. He was recently promoted to Assistant Professor
of Neurology (tenure track) at Washington University and is now seeking support for further mentorship as he
focuses on a novel treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease. Building on pioneering research at Washington
University, Dr. Lucey is now studying how different sleep conditions (e.g. sleep deprivation, sleep induction
with medication, normal sleep control) affect the central nervous system (CNS) production, clearance, and
concentration of amyloid-β (Aβ). He has found that sleep deprivation significantly increases CNS Aβ and
preliminary findings suggest that a similar increase in CNS Aβ occurs in individuals with poor sleep efficiency
(i.e. poor sleep quality). Using a stable isotope labeled amino acid to determine in vivo Aβ production and
clearance rates, Dr. Lucey will test: 1) if CNS Aβ production, clearance, and concentration are increased in
individuals with poor sleep efficiency compared to those with good sleep efficiency; 2) if treating individuals
with poor sleep efficiency treated with a sleep-inducing drug (suvorexant, a dual orexin receptor antagonist) will
decrease CNS Aβ production, clearance, and concentration compared to controls. His short-term goals are to
address fundamental and impactful questions of Alzheimer's disease and sleep by establishing an academic
career, expanding his translational research group with independent funding (R01), and gain world-leading
expertise in the understanding and treatment of sleep problems in older adults without and with
neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Lucey's long-term goal is to develop an exciting
research program investigating the interrelationships between sleep, aging, and Alzheimer's disease.
Understanding these relationships could drive the development of new treatments to prevent or delay
Alzheimer's disease. To accomplish these goals, he has enlisted an outstanding experienced investigator in
aging research as mentor, Dr. Randall Bateman, as well as a career development advisory panel of
international leaders in the fields of sleep research, geriatrics, aging, and Alzheimer's disease (Drs. Paul Shaw,
David Holtzman, and David Carr). His career development plan includes: 1) frequent meetings with his
mentor and advisory panel; 2) attendance and presentation at neurodegeneration, aging, and sleep focused
seminars; 3) relevant coursework in clinical trial design, data management, aging, and mass spectrometry; 4)
on-going training in the responsible conduct of research. Washington University School of Medicine has an
outstanding track record of mentorship, in particular with K awardees, and has multiple labs focused on aging
and neurodegenerative disorders. This will provide a rich and supportive scientific environment for m...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9927556
- **Project number:** 5K76AG054863-05
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Brendan Patrick Lucey
- **Activity code:** K76 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $155,742
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-15 → 2021-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9927556

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9927556, Sleep Quality and Human Amlyoid-Beta Kinetics (5K76AG054863-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9927556. Licensed CC0.

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