How swings in blood pressure affect brain blood vessels and support cells
The impact of blood pressure variability on neurovascular function
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 ID | NIH-11392592 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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, United States
- Augusta University — Augusta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Filosa, Jessica a — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Filosa, Jessica a
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 below.