Investigating how alcohol use affects the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders
Official title: Project 1: Alcohol use and AD/ADRD risk: innovative methods and data for new insights
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-10934714 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how drinking alcohol, especially in low to moderate amounts, might affect the chances of developing Alzheimer's Disease, and it's for anyone interested in understanding how their drinking habits could impact their brain health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $655,214 |
| NIH project number | 1P01AG082653-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10934714 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults over 21 years old who consume alcohol and are at risk for Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not consume alcohol or those with established Alzheimer's Disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders. It aims to clarify how different levels of alcohol use, particularly low-risk and moderate drinking, impact cognitive health. By analyzing data from diverse clinical and population cohorts, the study will utilize advanced statistical methods to provide clearer insights into the effects of alcohol on Alzheimer's risk. This research could help inform clinical and policy interventions regarding alcohol consumption.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention strategies for Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown mixed results regarding alcohol's effects on cognitive health, indicating that this area is still under investigation and may yield novel insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Glymour, Medellena Maria — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Glymour, Medellena Maria
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Biomarkers to detect recent heavy drinking in veterans
A doctor-scientist team is testing blood biomarkers to better identify recent excessive alcohol use in veterans so clinicians can screen, counsel, and care for those at risk.
-
Understanding how heavy drinking and anxiety relate in emerging adults
This grant studies how heavy alcohol use and anxiety symptoms interact in young adults (ages 18–34) and what biological stress markers might reveal about that relationship.
-
Understanding how veterans access care for alcohol use and behavioral health
A study following 2,000 post-9/11 veterans to see how alcohol use, PTSD, and depression relate to access to behavioral health care over four years.
-
Understanding how peer norms around alcohol and HIV prevention affect adolescents and young adults in rural Uganda
This project studies how what young people think their peers do or approve of influences drinking and HIV prevention behaviors in rural Uganda, with the goal of improving health outcomes.
-
Mentor Moms+: a community-led plan to cut alcohol use and HIV risk during pregnancy in South Africa
A community-based program adapts a trusted peer-led model to help pregnant and lactating people reduce alcohol use and HIV risk in South Africa.
-
Functional Connectivity-Guided TMS for Alcohol Use Disorder
A new approach uses targeted brain stimulation to help people with alcohol use disorder stay abstinent longer by focusing treatment on specific brain circuits.
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.