Musiek Lab
Erik S. Musiek, MD, PhD
The Musiek lab studies how circadian rhythms and the circadian clock system influence neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease. Research focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which the circadian clock regulates processes such as inflammation, oxidative stress and protein aggregation in cellular and animal models of Alzhiemer’s disease and other age-related neurodegenerative conditions.
Areas of current interest include:
- Circadian clocks in Alzheimer’s Disease pathogenesis
- Regulation of glial function and neuroinflammation by the circadian clock
- Interplay between aging, the circadian clock, and neurodegeneration
- The role of glial cells in neurodegenerative diseases
- Novel therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s Disease
Principal investigator
Recent publications
- Dual orexin receptor antagonism with lemborexant enhances microglial clearance of β-amyloid in miceSharma, A., Segawa, E., Chen, X., Park, S., Wang, S., Irmen, R. E., Constantino, N. J., Wang, C., Kanan, M. F., Colonna, M., Macauley, S. L., Cheng, J. Y., Hatanaka, K., Moline, M. & Musiek, E. S., Dec 2026, In: Molecular neurodegeneration. 21, 1, 28.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Author Correction: Circadian circuits control plasticity of group 3 innate lymphoid cells by sustaining epigenetic configuration of RORγt (Nature Immunology, (2025), 26, 9, (1527-1539), 10.1038/s41590-025-02240-5)Bhattarai, B., Antonova, A. U., Fachi, J. L., Hopkins, L. S., McCullen, M. V. D., Saini, A., Oliveira, S. D., Beatty, W. L., Musiek, E. S., Kuchroo, V. K., Lazar, M. A., Oltz, E. M. & Colonna, M., Jun 2026, In: Nature immunology. 27, 6, p. 1306 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
- NAD+‒circadian rhythm coupling in dementiaZhang, S. Q., Lee, J., Pan, J. P., Enger, R., Hrubos-Strøm, H., Musiek, E. S., Fang, E. F. & Le, W., May 2026, In: Alzheimer's and Dementia. 22, 5, e71360.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
- Wake-promoting neuromodulators in Alzheimer's disease: Implications for sleep and brain clearancePedersen, T. J., Clemens, S. G., Winer, J. R., Sharma, A., Falgàs, N., Lucey, B. P., Gordon, B. A. & Musiek, E. S., Mar 2026, In: Alzheimer's and Dementia. 22, 3, e71298.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
- REV-ERB-alpha and -beta coordinately regulate astrocyte reactivity and proteostatic functionNadarajah, C. J., Li, M. Y., Quillin, E. I., Boyer, K., Dimitry, J. M., Chen, Y., King, M. W., Saliu, I. O., Lee, J., Sheehan, P. W., Davis, A. A., Lazar, M. A., Zhao, G. & Musiek, E. S., Feb 3 2026, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 123, 5, e2511093123.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Relationship between age and severity of cognitive impairment at diagnosis for early-onset and late-onset Alzheimer's disease: Comparison of LEADS and ADNILEADS Consortium & for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, Feb 2026, In: Alzheimer's and Dementia. 22, 2, e71160.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk in early- and late-onset Alzheimer's diseasefor the Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Study Consortium and the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, Jan 2026, In: Alzheimer's and Dementia. 22, 1, e71066.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Heterogeneous clinical phenotypes of sporadic early-onset Alzheimer’s disease: a neuropsychological data-driven approachthe LEADS Consortium, Dec 2025, In: Alzheimer's Research and Therapy. 17, 1, 38.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Time-of-day and age-related patterns in cerebrospinal fluid glucose and proteinKoleske, J. P., Pan, S., Meehan, T., Loe, M., Morales, D. M., Lucey, B. P., Musiek, E. & Strahle, J. M., Dec 2025, In: Fluids and barriers of the CNS. 22, 1, 102.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Tablet-based Cognitive Assessment Tool (TabCAT) in a multisite study of early-onset Alzheimer's diseaseLEADS Consortium, Dec 2025, In: Alzheimer's and Dementia. 21, 12, e71012.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review