Corina Bondi was awarded a R01 grant entitled “Traumatic brain injury and aging: targeting the cholinergic system for deficits in sustained attention and executive function” from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Bondi is assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) and neurobiology, and associate director in executive function and neuropharmacology at the Safar Center for Resuscitation Research.

Co-investigators include Anthony E. Kline, professor of PM&R; C. Edward Dixon, professor of neurological surgery; and Gina McKernan, research assistant professor and director of Biostatistics Core in PM&R.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) affect 2.8 million individuals each year in the U.S. and cause long-lasting cognitive and mood alterations. The greatest external cause for TBI is falls, especially in older adults over 65 years of age. This project aims to characterize alterations in sustained attention, behavioral flexibility and anxiety-like responses after TBIs in young, adult and aged male and female rats.