Measuring brain oxygen levels to understand dementia caused by blood vessel issues
Official title: Imaging of brain oxygen extraction fraction in vascular contributions to dementia
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11064899 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new MRI method to see how well the brain is getting oxygen in older adults with signs of blood flow issues that might be linked to dementia, helping us understand how these changes affect thinking and memory.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $656,246 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS128179-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11064899 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are elderly individuals who exhibit signs of cognitive impairment and have white matter hyperintensities on MRI scans.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cognitive impairment or those who do not show vascular contributions to dementia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new MRI technique to measure the oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) in the brains of elderly patients who show signs of vascular contributions to dementia. By assessing OEF, researchers aim to better understand how blood flow and oxygen levels in the brain relate to cognitive impairment. The study will involve patients with white matter hyperintensities, which are indicators of cerebrovascular disease, to explore the relationship between these vascular changes and dementia. The goal is to create a clinically feasible method that can provide insights into brain health and cognitive decline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnostic tools for identifying at-risk patients and better management strategies for dementia related to vascular issues.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced MRI techniques to assess brain health, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fan, Audrey Peiwen — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Fan, Audrey Peiwen
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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.