How COVID-19 Infection Might Accelerate Lewy Pathology and Dementia
Official title: Mechanistic Investigation of Chronic Neuropathologic Interaction Between Viral Infection and Progression of Lewy Pathology and Dementia
Funded at Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport · NIH-11344660 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how COVID-19 could influence brain changes linked to dementia, focusing on people affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Shreveport, United States) |
| Project start | May 13, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $582,172 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS148641-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11344660 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias and a history of COVID-19 exposure or infection, as well as samples from affected patients.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without ADRD or without a history of COVID-19 exposure may have limited direct benefit from this basic-mechanistic work.
What this research studies
The project looks at how a viral infection like SARS-CoV-2 might interact with brain changes involved in dementia. It includes studies in human cells and animal models to understand how the virus could promote Lewy pathology and cognitive decline. Researchers will examine molecular and cellular pathways, including autophagy-lysosome function and genotoxic stress, to see how infection could influence disease progression. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could inform prevention or treatment strategies for patients with ADRD who experience viral infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify targets to slow or modify dementia progression in patients who have had COVID-19.
How similar studies have gone: Existing animal and cellular studies have shown links between viral infections and synucleinopathy, suggesting this approach is promising but still early in translation.
Where this research is happening
-
Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
Shreveport, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Xiaohong — Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
- Study coordinator: Lu, Xiaohong
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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.