Finding hidden small strokes and white matter damage on routine brain scans with AI
Official title: Covert Cerebrovascular Disease Detected by Artificial Intelligence (C2D2AI): Pragmatic Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Future Stroke and Dementia Risk
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-11285315 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using artificial intelligence to spot unnoticed brain blood-vessel damage on routine CT or MRI scans to help people at risk for stroke and dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $803,019 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS134859-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11285315 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have had routine clinical brain CT or MRI scans—especially those with vascular risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, or prior heart disease—would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without any brain imaging, or those whose scans are clearly normal and who lack vascular risk factors, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project will apply AI tools to routine clinical CT and MRI brain scans to find covert brain infarcts and white matter disease that are often missed or unreported. The team will link those AI-detected imaging findings to electronic health records to see which patients later develop stroke or dementia. They will create practical imaging markers that can work with real-world scans and reporting systems across hospitals. The goal is to make these hidden risks visible so doctors and patients can consider earlier prevention steps.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could let clinicians detect hidden cerebrovascular damage earlier and target people for prevention to reduce future stroke and dementia risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show covert infarcts and white matter disease predict stroke and dementia and some AI tools can detect imaging lesions, but applying AI broadly to routine clinical CT/MRI across health systems is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kent, David M — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Kent, David M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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This study is looking to find hidden brain problems that can lead to strokes and memory issues by using advanced imaging and smart computer technology, so we can help people catch these risks early and stay healthier longer.
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AI detects hidden brain blood-vessel damage linked to stroke and dementia
This project uses AI to find hidden small strokes and white-matter changes on routine brain scans in older adults to help prevent future stroke and dementia.
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Using artificial intelligence to find hidden brain diseases that could lead to strokes and dementia
This study is looking to find hidden brain problems that could lead to stroke or dementia by using smart computer techniques to analyze brain scans and reports, helping doctors catch these issues early and improve treatment for patients.
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BBB Dysfunction after Stroke and Risk for Dementia
A study at Stanford will look at whether inflammation after a stroke leads to leaky blood vessels and later dementia, by following stroke survivors and comparing them with people without stroke.
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DNMT3a and oligodendrocyte renewal after stroke
A patient-focused study will explore how a specific gene, DNMT3a, might help repair brain white matter after a stroke to reduce dementia risk.
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BBB Dysfunction after Stroke and Dementia Risk
This NIH grant aims to understand why some people develop dementia years after a stroke by looking at brain inflammation and blood vessel leakage.
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.