Leaky brain blood vessels after stroke linked to dementia

BBB Dysfunction in Post-Stroke Dementia

['FUNDING_R01'] · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · NIH-11395026

This work looks for MRI signs and blood markers of leaky blood vessels and inflammation in people who had a stroke years ago and may be at risk for memory and thinking problems.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorSTANFORD UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (STANFORD, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11395026 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If you join, you would get advanced MRI scans that measure blood-brain barrier leakage, blood draws to measure inflammation and angiogenic proteins, and cognitive testing. The team will enroll about 200 people with chronic stroke and 50 comparison participants across Stanford, Columbia, and the University of Manchester. Researchers will compare imaging and blood markers to see whether long-lasting, leaky new blood vessels after stroke relate to later cognitive decline. The project builds on mouse experiments and human autopsy findings that showed persistent inflammation and abnormal vessel growth in stroke scars.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults who had a prior stroke (months to years ago), including those with new or worsening memory or thinking problems, would be the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without a history of stroke or those immediately recovering from a new, very recent stroke are unlikely to be helped directly by this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify people at higher risk for dementia after stroke and open the door to earlier monitoring or treatments to prevent decline.

How similar studies have performed: Mouse studies and human autopsy work support the idea of chronic post-stroke inflammation and vessel abnormalities, but applying MRI and blood biomarkers to detect late blood-brain barrier leakage in living stroke survivors is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

STANFORD, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.