Exploring how blood vessel health affects memory and thinking in Alzheimer's disease.
Official title: Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID)
Funded at Jackson Laboratory · NIH-11074720 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how problems with blood vessels might affect memory and thinking skills in people with Alzheimer's and similar conditions, and it's for anyone interested in understanding more about these issues and helping future scientists learn about them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jackson Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bar Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $10,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R13NS141586-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11074720 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing cognitive decline or diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cognitive impairments not related to vascular issues or Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of vascular factors in cognitive decline and dementia, particularly in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It aims to understand how issues like small vessel disease and blood-brain barrier dysfunction contribute to these conditions. The approach includes genetic and biomarker studies in both humans and model organisms, utilizing advanced multi-omic technologies. A key component of this research is a specialized conference designed to train the next generation of scientists in this emerging field.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment options for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the vascular contributions to cognitive decline, indicating that this area is gaining traction in the scientific community.
Where this research is happening
-
Jackson Laboratory
Bar Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Howell, Gareth R — Jackson Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Howell, Gareth R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
GPR39-based treatment approach for aging-related brain vascular dementia
A new drug-style compound that activates GPR39 in the brain is being studied to help people with vascular dementia linked to aging.
-
Imaging tiny brain vessels to understand vascular dementia
A doctor-scientist is testing a high-resolution brain MRI method to see tiny blood vessels and blood flow in people with vascular cognitive impairment and related dementias.
-
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.
-
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.
-
How lipid signals, neighborhood poverty, and small vessel disease relate to vascular cognitive impairment and dementia
A. study will look at how blood lipid patterns, neighborhood deprivation, and small vessel brain changes relate to vascular cognitive impairment and related dementias in 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.