Imaging brain blood flow and oxygen use for vascular-related memory loss
Physiological imaging markers in vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID)
Non-invasive MRI scans of brain oxygen use and blood flow aim to help people with vascular-related memory loss and mixed Alzheimer's/dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238081 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get special MRI scans that measure how your brain gets and uses oxygen (oxygen extraction fraction) and how well blood flows through small brain vessels. Researchers will combine these physiological measures with other imaging and clinical data to create a biomarker that signals vascular contributions to memory problems. The team will include people with vascular cognitive impairment, vascular dementia, and mixed Alzheimer’s/vascular cases and follow them over time to see how the measures relate to symptoms. The scans are non-invasive but will require coming to the imaging center and may be repeated during follow-up.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults with vascular cognitive impairment, vascular dementia, mixed Alzheimer’s and vascular pathology, or memory problems plus vascular risk factors such as stroke history, hypertension, or diabetes.
Not a fit: People whose memory problems are purely non-vascular (for example only classic Alzheimer’s pathology) or those unable to undergo MRI (metal implants, severe claustrophobia) may not benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could give doctors a reliable, non-invasive biomarker to improve diagnosis and guide treatment decisions for vascular cognitive impairment and mixed dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Related MRI methods measuring perfusion and oxygen use have shown promising early results, but using them to add a vascular 'V' to the A/T/N framework is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Hanzhang — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Lu, Hanzhang
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.