Low red blood cell enzyme linked to thinking and memory problems after stroke
Official title: Red Blood Cell BPGM Deficiency Contributes to Cognitive Impairment Following Ischemic Stroke
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11238913 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether low levels of a red blood cell enzyme (BPGM) are connected to thinking and memory problems in people who have had an ischemic stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $200,400 |
| NIH project number | 5R21NS140800-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238913 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have had an ischemic stroke and are experiencing or at risk for thinking or memory problems would be the most relevant candidates and may be asked to provide blood samples and clinical information.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of ischemic stroke, or whose cognitive problems are clearly due to non-vascular causes, are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will compare BPGM enzyme levels in red blood cells from people who had an ischemic stroke and have thinking or memory problems to those who do not. They will use blood samples from patients alongside laboratory experiments in cells and animal models to see how low BPGM might reduce oxygen delivery to the brain, trigger hypoxia responses in blood vessel cells, and affect amyloid beta production and blood–brain barrier integrity. The team will link patient blood findings with measures of vascular and cognitive function to understand how red blood cells may influence post-stroke brain health. Findings could point toward blood tests or treatments that protect thinking after stroke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to blood-based tests to identify stroke survivors at higher risk of cognitive decline and new treatments that target red blood cells or vascular oxygen delivery.
How similar studies have gone: A prior pilot study by the team found lower RBC BPGM in stroke patients with cognitive impairment, but using RBC BPGM as a biomarker or treatment target is a new idea with limited prior clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deng, Wenjun — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Deng, Wenjun
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Investigating how a red blood cell enzyme affects cognitive impairment after stroke
This study is looking at how a certain enzyme in your red blood cells might affect thinking and memory problems after a stroke, with the hope of finding new ways to help stroke survivors who are struggling with these issues.
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Improving blood flow after stroke by breaking down NETs
Aims to see if breaking down neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) after an ischemic stroke can improve blood flow and reduce brain injury in patients.
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EP2 blockers to protect the brain after a stroke
Aims to test brain-permeable EP2 antagonists to reduce damage after ischemic stroke and improve recovery.
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Genetic testing to find causes of early-onset ischemic stroke
This project uses whole-exome sequencing to look for gene changes that may cause ischemic stroke in adults who had a stroke at a young age.
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Targeted nanomedicine to protect the brain after stroke
A targeted drug-delivery approach aims to boost blood-brain barrier repair and reduce brain damage after an acute ischemic stroke in patients at risk.
-
How biological aging and blood proteins relate to thinking after a stroke
This project looks at whether measures of biological aging and patterns of blood proteins help explain which stroke survivors keep their thinking sharp and which go on to develop vascular 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.