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
- 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
- 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
- A glial circadian gene expression atlas reveals cell-type and disease-specific reprogramming in response to amyloid pathology or agingSheehan, P. W., Fass, S. B., Sapkota, D., Kang, S., Hollis, H. C., Lawrence, J. H., Park, S., Sharma, A., Schafer, D. P., Anafi, R. C., Dougherty, J. D., Fryer, J. D. & Musiek, E. S., Nov 2025, In: Nature neuroscience. 28, 11, p. 2366-2379 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Circadian rhythms and the light-dark cycle interact to regulate amyloid-beta plaque accumulation and tau phosphorylation in 5xFAD miceKing, M. W., Jacob, S. M., Sharma, A., Lawrence, J. H. & Musiek, E. S., Nov 2025, In: Alzheimer's and Dementia. 21, 11, e70885.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- REV-ERBα regulates brain NAD+ levels and tauopathy via an NFIL3–CD38 axisLee, J., Kang, R., Park, S., Saliu, I. O., Son, M., Voorhees, J. R., Dimitry, J. M., Quillin, E. I., Woodie, L. N., Lananna, B. V., Gan, L., Goo, Y. A., Zhao, G., Lazar, M. A., Burris, T. P. & Musiek, E. S., Oct 2025, In: Nature Aging. 5, 10, p. 2070-2085 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Early Alzheimer's disease patient care pathway and health system readiness: A framework for integrated careNasrallah, I. M., Polacek, C., Frech, F. H., Tariot, P. N., Vawter, J., Zabar, Y., Divers, C., Shang, W. Y., Geldmacher, D. S., Towman, M., Reiter, H., Marshall, C. D., Baldivieso, V., Jones, D. R., Musiek, E. S., Toyosaki, H. & Tousi, B., Oct 1 2025, In: Alzheimer's and Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions. 11, 4, e70162.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Reconstructed cell-type-specific rhythms in human brain link Alzheimer's pathology, circadian stress, and ribosomal disruptionHollis, H. C., Sharma, A., Sheehan, P. W., Maggi, L. B., Weber, J. D., Hammarlund, J. A., Bennett, D. A., Menon, V., Musiek, E. S. & Anafi, R. C., Sep 3 2025, In: Neuron. 113, 17, p. 2822-2838.e7Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Circadian circuits control plasticity of group 3 innate lymphoid cells by sustaining epigenetic configuration of RORγtBhattarai, 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., Sep 2025, In: Nature immunology. 26, 9, p. 1527-1539 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Inflammatory pain in mice induces light cycle-dependent effects on sleep architectureBurek, D. J., Ibrahim, K. M., Hall, A. G., Sharma, A., Cucinello-Ragland, J. A., Musiek, E. S., Morón, J. A. & Carlezon, W. A., Sep 2025, In: Neuropsychopharmacology. 50, 10, p. 1595-1605 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review