How COVID-19 may damage the brain and interact with Alzheimer's risk
Official title: COVID-19-related blood-brain barrier and microstructural brain injury; Sex differences and synergy with Alzheimer's disease risk
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11232333 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether COVID-19 can harm the brain's protective barrier and worsen Alzheimer's-related changes in older adults, and whether effects differ between men and women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $755,005 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG077202-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11232333 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults—particularly older adults—who had COVID-19 and are willing to undergo brain imaging and provide blood samples, including people with or at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
People without prior COVID-19 infection or without Alzheimer's risk factors may be less likely to benefit directly from the study's findings.
What this research studies
This work follows older adults with and without prior COVID-19 to look for lasting changes in the brain's blood-brain barrier and microstructure. Researchers will combine brain imaging, biological markers, and genetic risk information (like APOE4) to see how past infection and Alzheimer's-related factors overlap. The team will compare results between men and women to learn whether sex influences risk or recovery. Findings are meant to clarify why some people have lasting cognitive problems after COVID-19 and how that might connect to dementia risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to biological signs that explain post-COVID cognitive decline and identify targets to prevent or slow dementia in vulnerable people.
How similar studies have gone: Early studies have reported cognitive problems and blood-brain barrier changes after COVID-19, but linking those changes to Alzheimer's risk and sex differences is a newer area with limited conclusive results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reas, Emilie T. — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Reas, Emilie T.
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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.