Lowering systolic blood pressure to protect the aging brain
Impact of Intensive Treatment of Systolic Blood Pressure on Brain Perfusion, Amyloid and Tau in Older Adults (IPAT-study)
This project compares tighter blood-pressure control (<120 mmHg) to standard control (<140 mmHg) in people 65+ to see if greater lowering can reduce Alzheimer-related proteins (amyloid and tau) and improve brain blood flow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171492 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be randomly assigned to a tighter blood-pressure target (<120 mmHg) or a standard target (<140 mmHg) and doctors will adjust your medicines to reach that goal. Researchers will use brain MRI to measure blood flow and PET scans to measure amyloid and tau buildup, along with regular blood-pressure checks and memory tests over time. The team aims to find out whether more intensive blood-pressure lowering improves brain circulation and helps clear proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Visits will include medication management, imaging sessions, and cognitive testing, and the study is for people aged 65 and older who have high blood pressure or are at higher risk for dementia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults age 65 or older with high systolic blood pressure who are willing to attend clinic visits, undergo medication adjustments, and have brain imaging and cognitive testing.
Not a fit: People under 65, those without hypertension, or those with advanced Alzheimer's disease are unlikely to benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, tighter blood-pressure control could lower Alzheimer-related brain proteins and improve brain circulation, which might slow cognitive decline.
How similar studies have performed: Prior trials like SPRINT showed that intensive blood-pressure lowering reduced risk of cognitive impairment, but direct effects on brain amyloid, tau, and perfusion remain unclear, so this work is a novel, mechanism-focused follow-up.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Rong — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Rong
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 below.