How COVID-19 infection and vaccination may affect the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Official title: The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Vaccination on the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11009489 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how getting COVID-19 might affect your brain and increase the chances of developing Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia, and it will also explore how vaccines could help reduce these risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $42,800 |
| NIH project number | 5F99AG083306-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11009489 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include older adults who have experienced COVID-19 infection or have received COVID-19 vaccinations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or have not received vaccinations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the potential link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It aims to understand how COVID-19 may cause neuroinflammation and other changes in the brain that could lead to cognitive decline. The study will utilize advanced epidemiological methods and longitudinal datasets to analyze the long-term effects of COVID-19 and the role of vaccinations in modifying these risks. Patients may be monitored through brain imaging and cognitive assessments over time to gather comprehensive data.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention strategies for Alzheimer’s disease in individuals affected by COVID-19.
How similar studies have gone: While the link between infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions is being explored, this specific investigation into COVID-19's impact on Alzheimer’s disease is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Jingxuan — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Wang, Jingxuan
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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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.
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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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SARS-CoV-2, APOE, and dementia: how COVID-19 affects thinking in aging and Alzheimer’s
This NIH grant explores how COVID-19 may impact brain function and pathology in people with aging or Alzheimer's disease, including how APOE genes might influence the effects.
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.