Glucose and brain health: how blood sugar and metabolism affect Alzheimer's risk in a diverse group
Official title: Glucose homeostasis and the risk of Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease related dementias in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Funded at Medstar Health Research Institute · NIH-11448411 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study follows adults 21 and up to see how long-term blood sugar control and metabolic signals relate to the development of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medstar Health Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $856,660 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AG070881-05A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448411 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older who are participants or potential participants in the MESA study and have data available on glucose monitoring and metabolic markers.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to glucose monitoring data or without availability in the MESA cohort may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use data from the MESA study, including continuous glucose monitor readings and metabolomic profiles, to track changes in glucose balance over time. The goal is to understand how shifts in glucose and metabolism as people age influence the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This project builds on prior work and aims to link metabolic health with brain health in a diverse cohort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform personalized strategies to prevent or delay dementia by managing glucose and metabolic health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed links between metabolic factors and cognitive outcomes, with ongoing efforts to clarify mechanisms and predictive markers.
Where this research is happening
-
Medstar Health Research Institute
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mongraw-Chaffin, Morgana Lee — Medstar Health Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Mongraw-Chaffin, Morgana Lee
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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.