Summary:
The Corundum Convergence Institute has awarded a research grant to MIT’s Laura Lewis, PhD, to study how sensory stimulation during sleep can enhance cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in aging brains. Since disordered CSF flow is linked to neurodegenerative diseases, the project aims to develop personalized, non-invasive interventions that could prevent cognitive decline before symptoms appear. Building on prior research showing increased CSF flow in younger adults, the study will adapt these algorithms for older adults to explore their potential for protecting brain health.
Key Takeaways:
- Sleep-Based Interventions May Support Brain Health – The study will evaluate how sensory stimulation during sleep can increase CSF flow, a process crucial for clearing toxins and maintaining neural health.
- Potential for Early Neurodegeneration Prevention – By targeting CSF flow in aging brains, researchers hope to develop interventions that delay or prevent conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
- Adapting Proven Methods for Older Adults – Prior research demonstrated CSF flow improvements in younger adults, and this study seeks to extend those benefits to aging populations.
Corundum Convergence Institute (CCI), a non-profit supporting research at the intersection of neuroscience and systems biology, awarded a research grant to Laura Lewis, PhD, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES) for her project exploring the development of algorithms to enhance cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in aging brains.
It leverages advanced sensory stimulation techniques to optimize CSF flow during sleep, a state critical for clearing toxic metabolites from the brain and supporting neural health. The study offers potential breakthroughs in the early detection and mitigation of neurodegenerative diseases, according to a release from CCI.
“There is substantial evidence that disordered CSF flow is linked to neurodegeneration. It is therefore critically important to identify interventions that can enhance flow,” says Lewis, Athinoula A. Martinos associate professor of IMES and electrical engineering and computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in a release. “Our work will help identify non-invasive, personalized interventions that can improve brain health before the onset of neurodegenerative symptoms.”
Harnessing Sleep to Enhance Brain Fluid Flow
The study will evaluate a closed-loop sensory stimulation algorithm that increases CSF flow during sleep. Flow is dramatically increased during certain phases of sleep, and sleep loss in midlife may be associated with the onset of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. Identifying interventions that can target and improve CSF flow during sleep may be a route to protecting memory and other diseases connected to neurodegeneration.
Lewis’ team has developed algorithms that they have shown to increase CSF flow in younger adults, and the CCI-funded study is designed to adapt and extend this to older adults. This work will identify how sensory stimulation during sleep can optimally increase CSF flow across the lifespan, laying a foundation for personalized interventions that prevent neurodegeneration.
“Dr Lewis’ research brings critical focus to the role of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics in aging—a field poised for significant breakthroughs,” says Caleb B. Bell III, PhD, president and executive director of CCI, in a release. “By leveraging the unique physiology of sleep to enhance fluid flow, this work exemplifies the innovative science CCI aims to support—work that not only deepens our understanding of brain aging and neurodegeneration but paves the way for transformative interventions.”
Josh Schulman, PhD, chief operating officer for CCI and chief scientist for Corundum Neuroscience, adds in a release, “This study is part of a paradigm shift toward understanding and modulating the brain environment in order to address pathological brain states and help promote neural resilience. We believe it will contribute to a framework for personalized interventions designed to prevent or delay the onset of disease and support brain function across individuals’ lifespans.”
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