Dr. Kay receives grant to study sleep apnea’s effect on Alzheimer’s disease

July 22, 2020

Headshot of Dr. Kay

Dr. Matthew Kay and Dr. David Mendelowitz (GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences) have received a one-year, $400,000 grant from the National Institute of Aging to study the effect of obstructive sleep apnea on cognitive decline and the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Kay is the principal investigator (PI) on the grant, and Dr. Mendelowitz is the co-PI.

The project will involve animal memory studies, neuropathology assessments using the imaging facilities of the SEH Nanofabrication and Imaging Center, and chemogenetics to activate the parasympathetic centers of the brain to protect against cognitive decline that is associated with obstructive sleep apnea. This project builds upon the strong long-term SEAS and SMHS cross-disciplinary research collaborations of Drs. Kay and Mendelowitz.