Integrating MRI and brain tissue analysis to understand dementia related to brain injuries.
Official title: An Acquisition and Analysis Pipeline for Integrating MRI and Neuropathology in TBI-related Dementia and VCID
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10933571 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new MRI techniques to better understand how conditions like traumatic brain injury and dementia change the brain, which could help improve diagnosis and treatment for patients dealing with these issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,531,181 |
| NIH project number | 5U24NS135561-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10933571 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury or those experiencing cognitive decline associated with dementia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-neurological conditions or those not experiencing cognitive impairment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing advanced MRI techniques to detect changes in brain tissue caused by conditions like traumatic brain injury and dementia. By creating a pipeline that combines MRI imaging with detailed analysis of brain tissue, the project aims to improve our understanding of how these conditions affect brain health. Patients may benefit from new insights into the mechanisms of cognitive impairment and dementia, which could lead to better diagnostic tools and treatment strategies. The research will also validate imaging biomarkers through postmortem studies, ensuring that the findings are grounded in actual brain pathology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnostic methods and treatment options for patients suffering from dementia and cognitive impairments related to brain injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced imaging techniques to study brain conditions, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Der Kouwe, Andre Jan Willem — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Van Der Kouwe, Andre Jan Willem
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating how DNA damage and repair mechanisms are altered in ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
This study is looking at how problems with DNA repair might contribute to conditions like ALS and frontotemporal dementia, and it’s testing ways to fix these issues in cells from patients to help develop new treatments.
-
Synthetic protein mimetics to treat Lewy Body Dementia
A new therapeutic approach using engineered protein-like molecules to block the harmful protein clumps that cause Lewy Body Dementia.
-
Dementia care staff study: adapting a US survey for use in many countries
A study is adapting and testing a survey for dementia care workers in the US, Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana to help understand why workers stay in their jobs and how to improve care.
-
Dementia care staff study: adapting a survey for use in many countries
A multinational study will adapt and test a U.S. dementia-care worker survey in Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana to help understand why staff stay in or leave long-term care settings.
-
Study of Dementia Care Staff in 4 Countries: Adapting Caregiver Surveys Across Cultures
A multinational project will adapt and test a dementia care worker survey so researchers can compare care environments across the US, Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana.
-
New biomarkers to distinguish LATE from Alzheimer’s disease in dementia
A study to develop blood and CSF tests that can tell apart LATE from Alzheimer’s disease in people with dementia.
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.