How COVID-19 and genetics affect cognitive decline and Alzheimer's risk in older adults
Official title: Interactions of SARS-CoV-2 infection and genetic variation on the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease in Ancestral and Admixed Populations
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Science Center · NIH-10907421 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how getting COVID-19 and our genes might affect brain health and the risk of memory problems or Alzheimer's in older adults, especially those from diverse backgrounds, and it involves tests to track changes over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $8,610,822 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AG076581-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10907421 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults aged 65 and above, particularly those from underrepresented minority backgrounds or with a history of COVID-19 infection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 65 or do not have a history of COVID-19 infection may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus interacts with genetic variations to influence the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease in older adults, particularly from underrepresented minority groups. The study will involve large cohorts from the USA, Africa, and South America, focusing on individuals aged 65 and older. Participants will undergo neurological, cognitive, imaging, and blood tests at multiple time points to assess changes over time. The goal is to understand the combined effects of COVID-19 and genetics on brain health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention strategies for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease in vulnerable populations.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the impact of viral infections on cognitive health, making this approach both relevant and timely.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Science Center
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Erausquin, Gabriel Alejandro — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: De Erausquin, Gabriel Alejandro
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How COVID-19 infection and genes may influence memory and dementia risk
This study looks at how getting COVID-19 and a person’s genes together affect the chance of developing memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
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How COVID-19 and genetics influence memory and dementia risk in older adults
This project studies how getting COVID-19 interacts with people’s genetic makeup to affect the likelihood of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease in older adults from diverse backgrounds.
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How COVID-19 and genetic differences may affect memory and Alzheimer's risk across diverse populations
This project will find out whether having COVID-19 together with certain genetic differences raises the chance of memory loss and Alzheimer's disease in older adults from varied ancestral backgrounds.
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How COVID-19 and genes may affect memory and Alzheimer's risk in diverse communities
This project looks at whether COVID-19 infection together with genetic differences raises the chance of memory loss and Alzheimer's disease in older adults from diverse ancestries.
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How COVID-19 and genetics may affect memory and Alzheimer’s risk in diverse older adults
The team will compare memory tests, brain scans, blood markers, and genes in older adults with and without COVID-19 to learn how infection and genetic differences relate to later memory loss and Alzheimer's risk.
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Alzheimer’s-related dementia after COVID-19: how SARS-CoV-2 affects the brain and potential drug repurposing
This research looks at how COVID-19 may contribute to dementia by studying brain inflammation, blood vessel injury, and virus-host interactions, with the goal of finding existing drugs that could help.
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.