Adiponectin's role in brain blood flow and vascular dementia
Adiponectin on cerebrovascular regulation in vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID)
This project tests whether the hormone adiponectin and a pill that activates its receptor can protect brain blood flow, white matter, and thinking in people with vascular cognitive impairment and dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257682 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
They use a mouse model that mimics reduced brain blood flow to study how adiponectin — a hormone made by fat cells — affects the brain. Scientists compare mice that lack adiponectin with normal mice and give some animals adipoRon, a small drug that activates adiponectin receptors. Over several weeks they measure memory, white matter health, and cerebral blood flow to see if boosting adiponectin signaling helps. The work looks at endothelial cells and molecular signals linking metabolism and brain blood vessels to understand how this pathway might be targeted for therapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with vascular cognitive impairment or early-stage vascular dementia, especially those with evidence of reduced cerebral blood flow or white matter damage, would be the most relevant candidates for related human studies.
Not a fit: Patients whose cognitive problems are driven mainly by non-vascular causes (for example pure Alzheimer's pathology) or those with very advanced dementia may be less likely to benefit from adiponectin-targeted approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new treatments that improve brain blood flow, protect white matter, and slow cognitive decline in people with VCID.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work in mice has shown that boosting adiponectin signaling can improve blood flow, white matter integrity, and cognition, but similar treatments have not yet been established in human trials.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Xiaoming — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Hu, Xiaoming
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.