How COVID-19 affects blood vessels in the brain and its link to dementia
Official title: Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the cerebrovasculature as a risk factor for VCID: Role of Wnt/beta-catenin
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11086549 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how COVID-19 might affect brain health and increase the risk of memory problems and dementia, especially by seeing how the virus impacts the blood-brain barrier, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding how past COVID-19 infections could influence brain function later on.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $561,155 |
| NIH project number | 1R56NS138437-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11086549 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who have had COVID-19 and are experiencing cognitive difficulties or are at risk for dementia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had COVID-19 or do not have any cognitive impairment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how COVID-19 may increase the risk of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). It aims to understand the mechanisms by which the virus affects the blood-brain barrier and contributes to cognitive decline. The study will explore the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in brain endothelial cells and how prior COVID-19 infection influences brain health after vascular stress. By using genetic and epigenetic modifications, the researchers will assess the potential for reversing VCID through targeted interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for identifying individuals at high risk for dementia and developing therapies to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on brain health.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has indicated that viral infections can impact cognitive health, but this specific approach to studying the effects of COVID-19 on VCID is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lutz, Sarah Elizabeth — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Lutz, Sarah Elizabeth
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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.