How swings in blood pressure affect brain blood vessels and support cells
Official title: The impact of blood pressure variability on neurovascular function
Funded at Augusta University · NIH-11392592 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to learn how repeated rises and falls in blood pressure can harm brain blood flow and increase the risk of thinking problems in people at risk for vascular cognitive decline.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $126,865 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS123644-02S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392592 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people who experience frequent blood pressure swings, have early or fluctuating high blood pressure, or are concerned about vascular causes of cognitive decline.
✕Less likely to help
People whose cognitive problems are driven solely by non-vascular causes (for example, purely genetic or protein-aggregation forms of dementia) may not benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will use advanced two-photon imaging and laboratory models to watch how changes in arterial pressure affect small brain blood vessels and nearby support cells called astrocytes. They will record calcium signals in astrocytes and study mechanosensitive channels that respond to pressure, comparing normal and high-blood-pressure conditions. Some experiments will mimic intermittent blood pressure spikes to see whether these swings cause lasting changes in vascular regulation and astrocyte behavior. The team aims to connect these cellular events to early steps that may lead to vascular cognitive impairment and dementia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent or slow vascular-related memory loss by stabilizing blood flow or protecting astrocytes.
How similar studies have gone: Epidemiological studies have linked blood pressure variability to later dementia, but direct cellular studies of how pressure affects astrocytes and small brain vessels are largely new.
Where this research is happening
-
Augusta University
Augusta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Filosa, Jessica a — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Filosa, Jessica a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Actions to Decrease Disparities in Blood Pressure Control for Blacks
Aiming to help Black patients manage high blood pressure by using nurses, community health workers, and home monitoring in real-world clinics.
-
Cognitive behavioral therapy and trazodone for insomnia phenotypes with high blood pressure
A clinical study tests how CBT-I and the sleep drug trazodone work for adults with insomnia and high blood pressure, focusing on a specific sleep duration pattern.
-
Music-powered tools to boost blood pressure and stroke prevention for Nigerian youth and their older caregivers
This project uses popular music to help Nigerian youths and their older family members start and stick to blood pressure and stroke prevention habits.
-
Non-invasive, continuous blood pressure monitoring for prenatal maternal health
A wearable device from PyrAmes uses comfortable, non-invasive sensors and smart software to constantly monitor a pregnant person’s blood pressure and heart health so doctors can protect both mom and baby.
-
Smartphone app helps pregnant women in Ghana monitor blood pressure at home
A smartphone app is being customized for pregnant women in Ghana to support home blood pressure monitoring and improve safety during pregnancy.
-
Nap duration during night shifts and blood pressure health
A Phase II study will test how long night shift naps should be to restore normal blood pressure patterns and maintain safe performance, while considering caffeine use, for night workers.
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.