Hypertension, Blood Pressure Targets, and Alzheimer’s Risk and Disparities in US Veterans
Official title: Hypertension, Blood Pressure Targets, and Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Risk and Disparities among Nationally Representative US Veterans
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11375185 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how blood pressure control and its targets relate to Alzheimer's and related dementia risk in diverse U.S. veterans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $798,311 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG085481-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11375185 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans or former service members aged 21 and older, with emphasis on those 65 and older, including diverse racial/ethnic groups and those with neurological or psychiatric exposures (e.g., TBI, PTSD, depression).
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without hypertension or without engagement with Veterans Health Administration data may have less direct applicability.
What this research studies
Researchers will use large electronic health record data from the Veterans Health Administration to study how hypertension, its treatment, and target blood pressure levels influence dementia risk across racial, geographic, and exposure groups (like TBI, PTSD, and depression). The study aims to identify which blood pressure targets may help reduce dementia risk in different veteran subpopulations. By examining real-world data from a national, diverse cohort, the work seeks to uncover where disparities in ADRD risk exist and how cardiovascular factors contribute. The findings could inform personalized blood pressure management to support brain health in veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could guide personalized blood pressure targets to lower dementia risk among veterans, reducing disparities and improving brain health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior evidence links hypertension management to dementia risk, but this project emphasizes diverse, veteran-specific subgroups and real-world data to advance understanding.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yaffe, Kristine — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Yaffe, Kristine
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding High Blood Pressure, Treatment Goals, and Dementia Risk in US Veterans
This project looks at how high blood pressure and its treatment might affect the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in US veterans.
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Investigating the link between hypertension and Alzheimer's risk in US veterans
This study is looking at how managing high blood pressure might affect the chances of U.S. veterans developing Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, especially for those who might be at greater risk due to their background or military experiences.
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Global picture of dementia risk and memory loss across the world
A large international effort gathers data from many studies to understand how dementia and memory problems develop around the world, using shared information to reveal patterns and risk factors.
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Automated language analysis for Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia across Latino and English-speaking groups
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Automated language analysis to help diagnose Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia in Latino and English speakers
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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.