Measuring brain oxygen use in vascular-related dementia
Imaging of brain oxygen extraction fraction in vascular contributions to dementia
A new MRI scan will map how the brain extracts oxygen in older adults with white matter changes linked to vascular contributions to dementia.
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 ID | NIH-11332444 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get a specially designed MRI that measures oxygen extraction in different parts of the brain, focusing on areas with white matter changes that suggest blood-vessel damage. The team will refine this MRI method to make the signal clearer and control for biological factors that can confuse results in older adults. They will compare oxygen extraction in affected white matter to healthier brain tissue to find regions that may be at risk. This could improve understanding of how vascular problems contribute to memory and thinking difficulties.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults who have white matter hyperintensities on MRI or clinical signs of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment or early dementia are the best fit.
Not a fit: People without cerebrovascular changes on brain MRI or whose dementia is clearly from non-vascular causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors spot brain tissue at risk from vascular injury earlier and tailor treatments to slow cognitive decline.
How similar studies have performed: Related MRI approaches have shown promise in stroke to identify at-risk tissue, but applying these oxygen-extraction methods to age-related white matter disease and dementia is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- 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
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.