How aging affects the immune response to mitochondria after a stroke and its impact on cognitive function
Official title: Aging Immunity to Extracellular Mitochondria Exacerbates Vascular Cognitive Impairment After Stroke
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11130707 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the immune system in older adults reacts to certain cell parts after a stroke and how this might affect thinking and memory, aiming to help us understand why some people have more trouble recovering from a stroke as they age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $470,786 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS137979-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11130707 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who have experienced a stroke and are facing cognitive challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger and have not experienced a stroke may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the aging immune system responds to extracellular mitochondria after a stroke and how this response may worsen cognitive impairment. The study focuses on the role of neurovascular inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia. By examining the recycling process of healthy mitochondria in the brain, the research aims to uncover the mechanisms that lead to cognitive decline in older adults following a stroke. Patients may be involved in understanding how their immune response changes with age and how this affects recovery after a stroke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies to improve cognitive outcomes for older stroke patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of mitochondrial function in cognitive impairment, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hayakawa, Kazuhide — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Hayakawa, Kazuhide
Related research
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Brain networks and reading after stroke and aging
A large study at Georgetown University aims to understand why reading is impaired after stroke and how aging affects reading, using advanced brain imaging to map the networks that support reading.”
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Thalamic IL-33 signaling and aging-related cognitive decline after brain injury
Aiming to understand how aging and brain injury interact to worsen memory and thinking problems by studying a specific brain signal (IL-33) in the thalamus and its effect on brain immune cells and tau pathology.
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.