Cognitive impairment after liver transplant in people with cirrhosis
Official title: The spectrum of cognitive impairment including Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias after liver transplantation
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11323202 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how brain function may change after liver transplant in people with cirrhosis and how it relates to everyday daily living.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2018 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,475,931 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG059183-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323202 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have undergone liver transplantation and may experience or be at risk for cognitive changes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cognitive changes or without access to post-transplant follow-up may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Building on our long-running study of physical frailty in liver transplant patients, this research will investigate cognitive changes after transplant, from subtle attention issues to conditions like Alzheimer’s-related dementia. The team will use data from multiple centers to track cognitive function over time and see how it relates to physical frailty and overall health after transplantation. The goal is to identify early signs, understand drivers, and guide timely diagnosis and management for patients who have had a liver transplant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients and clinicians could recognize cognitive changes earlier and receive better post-transplant care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed 30-60% of liver transplant recipients met criteria for cognitive impairment in pilot studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lai, Jennifer C. — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Lai, Jennifer C.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding cognitive impairment in liver transplant patients
This study is looking at how liver transplant patients might struggle with thinking and memory problems, like those seen in Alzheimer's, to help doctors better support their brain health and recovery after surgery.
-
Global picture of dementia risk and memory loss across the world
A large international effort gathers data from many studies to understand how dementia and memory problems develop around the world, using shared information to reveal patterns and risk factors.
-
PNA5 for VCID and Alzheimer's Dementias: A first-in-human safety study
A first-in-human trial tests a new drug, PNA5, to see if it is safe and tolerable for adults with vascular cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's-related dementias.
-
Global picture of dementia and Alzheimer’s risk across populations
A large international effort gathers health data from many cohorts to understand what increases or lowers the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease around the world.
-
Global patterns of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's dementia
Bringing together memory-study data from around the world to find lifestyle and environmental factors people can change to lower the risk of Alzheimer's and related dementias.
-
Extreme longevity and brain health in centenarians and families
This grant studies why some people live to 100 with strong thinking skills and how genes and biomarkers relate to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, aiming to help others stay cognitively healthy as they age.
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.