# SENILE CHANGES IN CIRCADIAN RHYTHEMS AND BEHAVIOR

> **NIH NIH R01** · MCLEAN HOSPITAL · 1991 · $184,037

## Abstract

DESCRIPTION (Author's abstract):  The goal of the research proposed in this
application is to gain an objective clinico-pathological understanding of
behavioral disorders seen in dementia of the Alzheimer type, in order to
provide a framework for the assessment and treatment of these disturbances.
Behavioral disorders are seen in approximately 60 percent of patients with
a clinical diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease (AD), and are a major
cause of disability and institutionalization.  These disturbances lack
objective clinical criteria, their neuropathological basis is unknown, and
effective treatments for them are largely unavailable.  Preliminary studies
suggest that some behavioral disturbances commonly seen in dementia may be
associated with abnormalities of circadian rhythms, and that degenerative
changes in the neurological structures thought to be necessary for
circadian rhythmicity may occur in AD.  These findings may have important
implications for diagnosis and treatment.  The specific aims of this
research are to test whether abnormalities of specific circadian parameters
will define specific subtypes of behavioral disorders in AD (pacing and
sundowning), and to determine the pathologic alterations responsible for
these syndromes.  This will be accomplished with a detailed longitudinal
clinical evaluation of AD patients being cared for in the same hospital
environment, followed by post-mortem brain analysis.  The clinical
evaluations (75 patients studied once every 6 months for 3 years) will
include objective measurement of the circadian cycles of rest-activity and
core body temperature.  The neuropathological examinations (approximately
15/yr) will focus on the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and the optic nerve,
structures found to be altered in AD patients.  Findings in the SCN and
optic nerve will be correlated with clinical findings and also with
pathologic changes elsewhere in the brain.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3121139
- **Project number:** 5R01AG009301-02
- **Recipient organization:** MCLEAN HOSPITAL
- **SAM.gov UEI:** MCKWJYCWNVN3
- **Principal Investigator:** ANDREW SATLIN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $184,037
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1990-09-01 → 1993-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3121139

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3121139, SENILE CHANGES IN CIRCADIAN RHYTHEMS AND BEHAVIOR (5R01AG009301-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3121139. Licensed CC0.

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