Circulating and Brain Lipids Linked to Memory and Dementia
Official title: Circulating and Brain Lipidomics, Cognition and Dementia
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11332654 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study will look at how specific fats in blood and brain relate to later Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and changes in thinking in people aged 65 and up.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $765,069 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG085717-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332654 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (65+) from diverse backgrounds, including those at risk for or with early cognitive changes.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without risk factors or those not represented in the study cohorts may have limited direct relevance.
What this research studies
This project will use advanced lipid profiling to measure thousands of lipid molecules in blood samples from a long-term aging cohort and in brain tissue from people with and without Alzheimer’s disease. By linking these lipid patterns to who develops dementia or experiences faster thinking decline, researchers hope to uncover new mechanisms and potential targets to prevent or slow the disease. The study will rely on existing blood samples from the Cardiovascular Health Study and brain tissue from Johns Hopkins, applying the Lipidyzer technology to quantify lipid species with detailed fatty acid chains. Outcomes include associations between lipid species and incident AD, incident dementia, and cognition trajectories over time. The work could set the stage for future trials or interventions focused on lipid pathways in aging brains.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new strategies to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline by targeting lipid pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown links between lipid changes and cognitive outcomes, but this study uses detailed lipid profiling to identify specific lipid species.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arking, Dan E — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Arking, Dan E
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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.