Project Grant RF1NS128966

This $7.72 million project grant from the National Institute on Aging, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, supports research under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866). The Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research will define the role of post-traumatic brain injury sleep disruption and glymphatic dysfunction in the development of Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathology. Over three years, the grantee and three sub-awardees will assess 70 veterans with a history of repetitive blast mild traumatic brain injuries. They will evaluate sleep, glymphatic function using MRI techniques, and biomarkers of Alzheimer's/CTE-related pathology. The University of California, San Diego will provide statistical support. Oregon Health & Science University will configure sleep assessment tools and analyze sleep data. The University of Washington will perform non-invasive MRI imaging to study glymphatic function. Findings aim to elucidate links between traumatic brain injury, subsequent sleep issues, and neurodegenerative disease risk.