HHP Doctoral Student Junyoung Hong's research proposal titled, "The effect of exercise on purinergic receptor-mediated cerebrovascular dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease" has been selected for funding by the The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Foundation Doctoral Student Research Grant Program. The grant awards funds of $5000 for a one-year period to be used for experimental subjects, supplies, and small equipment needs.

Junyoung Hong(right) with his advisor Dr. Yoonjung Park

The objective of Junyoung's proposal is to better understand how exercise protects vascular health in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, notably through the ATP-mediated cerebrovascular function in Alzheimer’s disease pathology and its underlying mechanisms.

The vascular theory of Alzheimer’s disease hypothesizes that impaired brain microcirculation and the subsequent accumulation of Amyloid peptide β (Aβ) are significant contributors to disease progression. Junyoung's research hypothesize's that Amyloid peptide β-mediated toxicity enhances P2X1-mediated vasoconstriction in cerebral arteries, and that exercise training reverses this process through upregulation of the endothelial P2Ys signaling pathway. He expects to gain novel insight into the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and the protective effect of exercise on the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease.

About the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. With more than 50,000 members and certified professionals worldwide, ACSM is dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.

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