Brain scans that link nerve signals and blood flow in Alzheimer's
Simultaneous EEG/fMRI to disentangle neural and vascular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease pathology
This project uses two types of brain recordings at the same time to learn how fast nerve activity and blood flow changes relate to early Alzheimer's in people at risk.
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 ID | NIH-11134576 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will record electrical brain signals with EEG while you have an MRI scan to measure blood-flow–related signals, capturing fast neural rhythms and vascular responses together. They will focus on higher-order brain regions where Alzheimer's changes often start and compare patterns in people with and without early signs or risk factors. The goal is to see whether disturbed neural timing and poor blood-flow regulation are linked with amyloid-related changes in the aging human brain. This work builds on animal and small human studies but uses simultaneous EEG/fMRI to get a more precise picture in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults with Alzheimer's risk factors such as mild memory concerns, a family history, known biomarker changes, or an APOE4 genetic risk.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia, those who cannot undergo MRI (for example due to metal implants or severe claustrophobia), or individuals without suspected Alzheimer's pathology may not gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help detect Alzheimer's-related brain changes earlier and point to new ways to prevent or slow disease by targeting brain activity or blood-flow regulation.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and some small human studies suggest links between neural activity, vascular regulation, and amyloid, but simultaneous EEG/fMRI in people to test these links is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sitnikova, Tatiana — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sitnikova, Tatiana
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 below.