NIH-funded research R01 grant

Exploring how personalized diets can help prevent Alzheimer's dementia.

Official title: Towards Precision Nutrition for Alzheimer's Dementia Prevention: A Prospective Study of Dietary Patterns, the Gut Microbiome and Cognitive Function

Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11086861 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how what you eat and the bacteria in your gut might affect your brain health, especially in preventing Alzheimer's, and it’s for people who want to learn how personalized diets could help keep their minds sharp as they age.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBrigham and Women's Hospital
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startJune 1, 2022
Project endMarch 31, 2027
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$851,108
NIH project number5R01AG077489-04
Project IDNIH-11086861 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 65 and older who are interested in dietary interventions for cognitive health.

Less likely to help

Patients under the age of 65 or those without concerns about cognitive health may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the relationship between dietary patterns, gut microbiome, and cognitive function in the context of Alzheimer's dementia prevention. It aims to develop personalized dietary approaches by analyzing how individual gut microbiomes interact with different diets to influence cognitive health. The study will utilize a prospective design, collecting data over several years to understand these complex interactions better. Participants will be monitored to see how tailored dietary changes can impact their cognitive function and overall health.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to personalized dietary recommendations that significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promise in using dietary interventions for cognitive health, but this approach of integrating gut microbiome analysis is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Wang, Dong — Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Study coordinator: Wang, Dong

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Personalized diets based on gut microbes to help prevent Alzheimer's

    Seeing if tailoring healthy diets to a person's gut microbes can help protect thinking and memory in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's.

    NIH research Brigham and Women's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11308277

  • Cognitive Function and Dementia in South Africa: A Longitudinal Study

    A long-term study in South Africa aims to understand how dementia develops and affects people as they age, using harmonized surveys and biomarkers so findings can help people in similar settings.

    NIH research Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health · Boston, United States · NIH-11399312

  • Gut microbes, brain inflammation, and dementia in Parkinson’s disease

    This project looks at how gut bacteria and their chemicals might influence brain inflammation and dementia in Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.

    NIH research Brigham and Women's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11365331

  • Improving cognitive function in mice with multi-infarct dementia

    This study is exploring a new way to help improve blood flow and reduce inflammation in the brains of mice with multi-infarct dementia, which is a type of memory and thinking problem caused by blood vessel issues, by using a special virus to boost a helpful enzyme in brain cells, and it aims to find the best dose for b

    NIH research Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · East Lansing, United States · NIH-11116232

  • Memory and thinking changes in older South African adults

    This project follows adults aged 40 and older in South Africa to track memory, thinking, brain scans, and blood markers related to dementia.

    NIH research Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health · Boston, United States · NIH-11115826

  • Daily life and sleep in couples living with early-stage dementia

    This project looks at how daily stress and good moments affect sleep, mood, and memory in couples where one partner has early-stage dementia.

    NIH research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, United States · NIH-11017074

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.