Brain changes from COVID-19 and long-term memory in older adults
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-11126660 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how COVID-19 affects the brain and memory over time in older adults.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $718,089 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG077156-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126660 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this type of research would be older adults who have experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection and are experiencing or are at risk for cognitive changes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had SARS-CoV-2 infection or are not older adults with cognitive concerns may not directly benefit from this specific line of inquiry.
What this research studies
This research aims to understand how SARS-CoV-2 infection, or COVID-19, might lead to changes in the brain that affect thinking and memory, especially in older individuals. Researchers are exploring if COVID-19 causes damage to the brain's small blood vessels, which can contribute to memory problems and dementia. They want to find out if older adults who had COVID-19 show more of this brain damage and if it progresses faster. This work will help us learn more about the long-term effects of COVID-19 on brain health and conditions like Alzheimer's.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us understand and potentially prevent or treat long-term cognitive issues in older adults who have had COVID-19.
How similar studies have gone: While the long-term effects of COVID-19 on cognitive function are still being understood, previous reports have highlighted cognitive and psychiatric issues associated with the infection, suggesting a basis for this investigation.
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.
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How COVID-19 infection and genes may influence memory and dementia risk
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Alzheimer’s-related dementia after COVID-19: how SARS-CoV-2 affects the brain and potential drug repurposing
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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.
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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.
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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.