Investigating how vascular disease affects cognitive decline in CADASIL compared to normal aging
Official title: Non-Invasive MRI Markers to Elicit the Role of Vascular Disease in CADASIL Compared to Normal Aging
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11036339 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how blood vessel problems affect thinking and memory in people with CADASIL, a rare genetic condition, by using MRI scans to see how their brains are doing over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $708,055 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG082208-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11036339 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with the CADASIL genetic mutation, including both symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without the CADASIL mutation or those with other unrelated forms of dementia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of vascular disease in cognitive impairment and dementia, specifically in individuals with CADASIL, a rare genetic disorder. By using non-invasive MRI techniques, the study aims to explore how small vessel disease impacts brain health and cognitive function over time. Participants will undergo MRI scans to assess brain structure and function, helping to identify early signs of cognitive decline related to vascular issues. The findings could provide valuable insights into the relationship between vascular health and dementia, potentially influencing future treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and management of cognitive decline in patients with vascular contributions to dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using MRI to study vascular contributions to cognitive impairment, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eisenmenger, Laura Burns — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Eisenmenger, Laura Burns
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Understanding how brain resilience and multiple brain pathologies influence aging and Alzheimer's disease
A long-term study follows older adults to learn how resilience to brain changes helps reduce dementia risk and what biological factors are linked to better cognitive aging.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
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.