COVID-19 and long-term memory and dementia risk
Longitudinal Epidemiology
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER · NIH-11180239
Looking at whether past COVID-19 raises the chance of memory problems and progression to Alzheimer's in people aged 60 and older.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAN ANTONIO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11180239 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be followed for three years with visits at the start, 18 months, and 36 months to track thinking and memory. Researchers will collect health histories, cognitive tests, blood samples for biomarkers and genetics, and brain imaging to compare people who had SARS-CoV-2 with those who did not. The project recruits older adults from different ancestral and admixed populations across five international sites to understand how infection, environment, and ancestry interact. Results aim to show patterns of decline and factors that predict who is more likely to develop progressive cognitive impairment or dementia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 60 or older, with or without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, who can attend in-person visits and agree to cognitive testing, blood draws, and brain imaging.
Not a fit: People under age 60, those unable to travel for in-person visits or undergo imaging, or those with very advanced dementia are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify older adults at higher risk after COVID-19 so they can get earlier monitoring and possible interventions.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary and other published studies suggest post-COVID cognitive problems are common in older adults, but long-term links to Alzheimer's and clear causal pathways remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
SAN ANTONIO, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER — SAN ANTONIO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: DE ERAUSQUIN, GABRIEL ALEJANDRO — UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER
- Study coordinator: DE ERAUSQUIN, GABRIEL ALEJANDRO
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.