How blood vessel problems contribute to dementia
Official title: Novel regulation of vascular dementia
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11322624 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at how blood vessel problems in the heart and brain may lead to dementia in people with or at risk for Alzheimer’s.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $529,705 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG082839-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322624 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would include older adults with Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment, and people with vascular risk factors such as stroke, atherosclerosis, or hypertension or with high-risk genes like APOE.
✕Less likely to help
People with non-vascular causes of memory loss, very advanced end-stage dementia, or young-onset familial Alzheimer’s unrelated to vascular health may be unlikely to receive direct benefit.
What this research studies
They will study blood vessel changes across the body — including heart and brain vessels — to see how those changes speed memory loss and dementia. The team will combine genetic data (like APOE), lab models, and patient tissue or clinical data to trace how vascular disease affects the brain. Investigators are focusing on a protein called Runx2 that may link atherosclerosis, stroke, and high blood pressure to Alzheimer-type changes. The aim is to find new targets for preventing or treating cognitive decline by addressing vascular health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat dementia by protecting or repairing blood vessels.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research links vascular health and APOE to dementia risk, but applying a pan-vascular perspective and targeting Runx2 represents a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Yabing — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Chen, Yabing
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
A brain-boosting peptide to help people at risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
A new drug-like peptide (PNA5) is being studied to reduce brain inflammation and improve blood flow in people at risk for vascular dementia and Alzheimer's-related dementia.
-
Cis-proline tau toxicity in brain injury and dementia
Aims to understand how a specific toxic form of tau protein appears after brain injury and contributes to Alzheimer’s-related dementia, and how early intervention might protect neurons.
-
Pathogenic exosomes in shingles and their link to vascular dementia
A study explores how tiny particles shed during shingles may raise the risk of vascular dementia in people, with potential to inform prevention.
-
Artery cell channels and stroke-related dementia in older men and women
This work looks at whether blocking an artery-cell channel called Panx1 can help older men and women have less brain damage and dementia after an ischemic stroke.
-
Scale-up of a peptide therapy to help brain blood flow and inflammation in people at risk for Alzheimer’s-related dementias
A small US-based project will scale up manufacturing of a new peptide medicine (PNA5) intended to help people at risk for Alzheimer’s-related dementia and vascular dementia by improving brain blood flow and reducing inflammation.
-
Exercise-Driven Repair of White Matter in Subcortical Vascular Dementia
A new study at a major hospital will test whether exercise can boost the brain’s repair cells to help people with a form of dementia linked to blood vessels.
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.