Early vascular-related thinking and memory changes in CADASIL
Official title: Unraveling the earliest phases of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia using CADASIL--a monogenic form of small vessel cerebrovascular disease
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-10842466 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how the NOTCH3 (CADASIL) gene leads to early blood-vessel-related thinking and memory changes by following people from before symptoms through dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $7,360,030 |
| NIH project number | 4RF1AG074608-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10842466 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people who carry the NOTCH3 mutation (CADASIL) or family members at risk, including those without symptoms yet.
✕Less likely to help
People whose cognitive problems are unrelated to small vessel disease and who do not carry NOTCH3 mutations are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would be followed over time if you carry or are at risk for the NOTCH3 mutation (CADASIL), with brain scans, cognitive tests, and blood or fluid samples to track early changes. The team uses imaging, genetics, biomarkers, and clinical exams to map how small vessel disease starts and progresses. Some participants who also have Alzheimer-type changes will help researchers see how vascular and Alzheimer processes mix. The overall aim is to identify early signs across the lifespan so future treatments can target the right people sooner.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help detect vascular contributions to cognitive decline earlier and guide timing and targets for future treatments.
How similar studies have gone: CADASIL has been used before as a model of small vessel disease, but few projects have followed carriers across the lifespan or closely examined mixed CADASIL–Alzheimer pathology, so this comprehensive approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Paulsen, Jane S — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Paulsen, Jane S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how a genetic condition affects cognitive decline and dementia.
This study is looking at how blood vessel health affects thinking and memory in people with CADASIL, a rare genetic condition, and it includes both those who have early signs of cognitive issues and those with more advanced symptoms, to help us understand how these problems develop over time.
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Global picture of dementia risk and memory loss across the world
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PNA5 for VCID and Alzheimer's Dementias: A first-in-human safety study
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Insomnia, Depression, and Sleep Medications in Mild Cognitive Impairment Leading to Dementia
This project looks at how sleep problems and depression, along with the medicines used to treat them, may affect the progression from mild cognitive issues to dementia in older adults.
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.