Alzheimer’s risk in women after intimate partner violence-related brain injuries
Official title: Evaluating Alzheimer's disease and related dementia outcomes associated with intimate partner violence-related mild traumatic brain injuries in women
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11431035 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at whether repeated brain injuries from intimate partner violence in older women are linked to a higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,864,414 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1NS150533-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11431035 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women aged 50 and older with a history of repetitive IPV-related mild traumatic brain injuries.
✕Less likely to help
Women without a history of IPV-related brain injuries or those outside the age range may not experience direct benefit from this study.
What this research studies
The project studies women aged 50 and older who have experienced repetitive mild brain injuries due to intimate partner violence, and it examines how these injuries relate to cognitive health, mood, and brain changes over time. It will use neuroimaging, cognitive testing, and clinical assessments to explore links between past injuries and later dementia risk. The goal is to understand if IPV-related brain injuries contribute to late-life dementia, so clinicians can better screen and support affected women. Results could inform prevention, monitoring, and potential interventions for women who have endured IPV-related brain trauma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could improve early detection and targeted care for dementia risk in women with IPV-related brain injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has linked repetitive brain injuries to cognitive and brain changes, but late-life dementia outcomes in IPV-related injuries are not well studied, making this approach relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Valera, Eve M — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Valera, Eve M
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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.