How carotid disease affects memory and thinking skills
Official title: Role of Carotid Disease in Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Funded at Southern Arizona VA Health Care System · NIH-11052703 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how problems with the carotid arteries might affect memory and thinking skills, especially for people who are having treatment for severe narrowing of these arteries, which can lead to strokes, and it aims to help doctors choose the best patients for these treatments to lower the risk of dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Southern Arizona VA Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 1I01CX002260-01A2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11052703 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults with severe carotid narrowing who are at risk for cognitive impairment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without carotid disease or those who do not have cognitive impairment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between carotid disease and cognitive impairment, particularly focusing on how carotid interventions may influence memory and decision-making abilities. It aims to identify patients at risk for cognitive decline following procedures for severe carotid narrowing, which is a common cause of stroke. By understanding the mechanisms behind cognitive deterioration, the study seeks to improve patient selection for interventions and ultimately reduce the risk of dementia. The research will analyze the impact of silent brain infarcts and blood flow on cognitive outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better patient selection for carotid interventions, potentially reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that carotid interventions can impact cognitive outcomes, but this specific approach to identifying at-risk patients is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Southern Arizona VA Health Care System
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Wei — Southern Arizona VA Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Wei
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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.