Project description
Harnessing brain mechanics during sleep to clear dementia-associated proteins
Dementia, marked by severe cognitive and physical deficit, results in complete loss of autonomy and quality of life. It could affect 14 million Europeans by 2050 and there is no cure. Recent discoveries suggest that cerebrovascular pulsations during sleep help the brain clear neurotoxic proteins that contribute to dementia, but the mechanisms are unclear. The ERC-funded BRAINSOMNIA project aims to elucidate them using advanced multiscale computational models grounded in a novel theory of solute transport in deformable porous media and integrated with in vivo data of cerebrovascular dynamics during sleep. Identification of pulsation patterns that optimise brain clearance will support proposal of a clinical pipeline for dementia risk assessment and therapy.
Objective
Dementia affects 8 million people in the EU, with cases projected to reach 14 million by 2050 due to an ageing population. It is the final stage of neurodegenerative diseases—Alzheimer’s disease being the most prevalent—marked by a total loss of autonomy with severe cognitive and physical decline. With no cure available, dementia places a growing strain on society underscoring the urgent need for prevention strategies.
Recent findings highlight that cerebrovascular pulsations during sleep enhance brain clearance of neurotoxic proteins—key contributors to these diseases. These pulsations are promising targets for prevention as they can be non-invasively measured and modulated through neurostimulation. However, the mechanisms driving this brain clearance process remain unclear, posing a major obstacle to the development of effective strategies.
To address this challenge, BrainSomnia will develop advanced multi-scale computational models to study the mechanical aspects of brain clearance. These models will be based on a novel theory of solute transport in deformable porous media, validated through experiments in brain-mimicking hydrogels. By integrating these models with in-vivo data of cerebrovascular dynamics during sleep, BrainSomnia aims to: 1) understand how vascular pulsations drive solute transport; 2) link these pulsations to brain clearance and Alzheimer’s disease progression; 3) identify patterns that optimize brain clearance; and 4) propose a clinical pipeline for dementia risk assessment and therapy.
Through its transdisciplinary approach, BrainSomnia introduces a paradigm shift in dementia prevention by including a mechanical pathway alongside standard biochemical approaches. The impacts will improve risk detection and guide revolutionary therapeutic interventions that modulate sleep vascular pulsations to delay or prevent dementia. These efforts aim to preserve patients autonomy, reduce healthcare burdens, and enhance quality of life in an ageing society.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
91120 Palaiseau
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.