Benzodiazepine use after stroke in older adults with dementia
Official title: Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Benzodiazepine Strategies During Post-Acute Ischemic Stroke Recovery
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11363589 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how benzodiazepines are prescribed to people 65 and older who survived a stroke and have Alzheimer's or related dementias, and whether those prescriptions affect health outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| 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 | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $688,923 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG094637-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11363589 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (65+) who have had a stroke and have Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
The study may provide less direct benefit to stroke patients without ADRD or to those under 65.
What this research studies
Older adults with ADRD who have had a stroke are a large and growing group. The study will use national data to describe how benzodiazepines are prescribed after stroke, including dose, duration, and patterns across care settings. It will also examine whether higher doses or longer use are linked to worse health outcomes and what factors influence chronic benzodiazepine exposure. The focus is on providing real-world insights that could help clinicians make safer prescribing choices for this vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide safer benzodiazepine prescribing for older stroke patients with ADRD, potentially reducing harm and improving recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has suggested associations between benzodiazepine use and adverse outcomes, but large-scale real-world studies in ADRD stroke survivors are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moura, Lidia Maria Veras Rocha de — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Moura, Lidia Maria Veras Rocha de
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeted nanomedicine to protect the brain after stroke
A targeted drug-delivery approach aims to boost blood-brain barrier repair and reduce brain damage after an acute ischemic stroke in patients at risk.
-
Modeling Acute Ischemic Stroke to Improve Mechanical Thrombectomy
A research project is creating better computer models and animal studies to help remove clots more safely and effectively in people who have an acute ischemic stroke.
-
Nanoparticle-delivered tPA to overcome clot resistance in acute ischemic stroke
A Mayo Clinic team is testing a nanoparticle-delivered tPA approach to help dissolve clots more effectively in people with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel blockage.
-
Engineered tissue regulatory T cells as a treatment for stroke
A new off-the-shelf cell therapy using engineered regulatory T cells could help people who have an ischemic stroke recover by reducing inflammation and promoting tissue repair.
-
Fast penumbral imaging to guide stroke treatment
Aims to develop quick MRI techniques to identify tissue at risk in acute ischemic stroke and help decide whether to use advanced clot-busting treatment.
-
Circadian factors shaping reperfusion success in acute stroke
This grant looks at how the body’s internal clock might influence how well stroke patients respond to clot-busting or clot-removal treatments.
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.