Brain changes after COVID-19 in older adults and how they affect memory and thinking
Official title: Brain signature of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and its impact on long-term cognitive functioning in older adults
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11377463 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how COVID-19 may affect brain health and thinking in older adults over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $724,444 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG077156-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377463 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection and are being followed for cognitive health.
✕Less likely to help
Results may not directly benefit individuals who have not experienced cognitive symptoms or have different risk profiles.
What this research studies
The research focuses on understanding if SARS-CoV-2 infection contributes to brain small vessel disease and cognitive decline in older people. It uses brain imaging, biomarkers, and clinical assessments to track changes after infection and over the long term. The team aims to connect COVID-19-related brain changes to future risks of Alzheimer’s-type symptoms and dementia. This work may help identify who is at risk and what can be done to protect cognitive health after infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could help identify people at higher risk for cognitive problems after COVID-19 and guide strategies to prevent or slow dementia-related changes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests links between COVID-19 and cognitive/brain changes, but long-term effects and mechanisms remain uncertain.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schifitto, Giovanni — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Schifitto, Giovanni
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How COVID-19 infection and genes may influence memory and dementia risk
This study looks at how getting COVID-19 and a person’s genes together affect the chance of developing memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
-
Alzheimer’s-related dementia after COVID-19: how SARS-CoV-2 affects the brain and potential drug repurposing
This research looks at how COVID-19 may contribute to dementia by studying brain inflammation, blood vessel injury, and virus-host interactions, with the goal of finding existing drugs that could help.
-
IL-22’s role in SARS-CoV-2 infection and tissue protection
A short study to understand how the cytokine IL-22 might help protect tissues during and after COVID-19 infection, especially in people with complications related to acute graft-versus-host disease.
-
Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and its effects on placenta and child development
This grant studies how COVID-19 infection during pregnancy might change the placenta and influence a child’s brain development, especially in kids who may be at higher genetic risk for ADHD/ASD.
-
How COVID-19 and genetics influence memory and dementia risk in older adults
This project studies how getting COVID-19 interacts with people’s genetic makeup to affect the likelihood of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease in older adults from diverse backgrounds.
-
Impact of COVID-19 on latent TB reactivation in Kenya
This project in Kenya checks how having had COVID-19 might influence the reactivation of latent tuberculosis in adults.
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.