How COVID-19 and genetics may affect memory and Alzheimer’s risk in diverse 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-11180186 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $4,853,251 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AG076581-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180186 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults (especially people aged 65 and older) from Black/African, Amerindian/Latinx, or other admixed ancestries who can attend study visits and may have had COVID-19 or not.
✕Less likely to help
People who are unwilling to undergo cognitive testing, imaging, or blood draws, those under the study's age range, or those needing immediate clinical treatment for advanced dementia are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You would join a group of about 4,300 older adults from sites in the U.S., Nigeria, and Argentina and have neurological exams, cognitive tests, brain imaging, and blood draws using the same protocols. The researchers will sequence whole genomes and measure blood-based biomarkers to look for genetic patterns that change risk after COVID-19. Visits happen soon after infection (when applicable) and again at 18 and 36 months so the team can track changes over time. The focus is on people from underrepresented and admixed ancestries to better understand risks across diverse populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify people at higher risk of memory decline after COVID and point to earlier monitoring or targeted prevention for those groups.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have reported links between COVID-19 and cognitive problems, but large, multi-ancestry longitudinal studies that combine whole-genome sequencing with harmonized imaging and biomarker measures are relatively new.
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
How COVID-19 and genetics affect cognitive decline and Alzheimer's risk in older adults
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.
-
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.