Biomarkers to track how well interventions delay dementia in people at risk
Official title: Biomarkers to Track Effective Interventions that Delay Dementia Onset in Participants of the "Risk Reduction for Alzheimer's Disease (rrAD)" Trial
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11463330 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests whether biomarker changes and brain imaging can show if a health plan combining vascular risk reduction and aerobic exercise can delay dementia in adults 21 and older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $742,367 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG084134-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11463330 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older who are at risk for Alzheimer's-related dementias and have cardiovascular risk factors.
✕Less likely to help
People without cardiovascular risk factors or dementia risk, or those not willing to participate in long-term biomarker testing, may not benefit.
What this research studies
If funded, researchers will look at blood-based biomarkers and brain scans from people in a prior rrAD trial to see how reducing vascular risk factors and adding aerobic exercise affect thinking skills over two years. The study uses a randomized design to compare pharmacologic risk reduction, exercise, both, or usual care and tracks changes in biomarkers and cognition. The goal is to find clear signals that could guide future lifestyle and treatment strategies to prevent or delay dementia. Participants have already been followed in rrAD, and this project builds on that work to identify meaningful biomarker indicators.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help doctors tailor prevention plans that slow cognitive decline using accessible tests and lifestyle actions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous rrAD studies have shown relationships between vascular risk management, exercise, and cognitive measures, but biomarker-guided evidence is still evolving.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stowe, Ann Marie — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Stowe, Ann Marie
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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.