Memory and dementia risk in older adults with secondary hyperparathyroidism from kidney failure
Cognitive Decline and Incident Dementia in Older Patients with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
This project looks at whether high parathyroid hormone and related blood markers are linked to worsening thinking and dementia in older adults with end-stage kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258481 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be followed as an older adult with end-stage kidney disease while researchers measure blood levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and related markers like alkaline phosphatase and FGF-23. They will give regular cognitive tests and track medical records to see who develops dementia and which thinking skills decline. The team will compare biomarker levels to changes in specific domains such as executive function and explore whether PTH acts directly in the brain or indirectly through other blood markers. Blood samples and clinical data from dialysis clinics will be used to find patterns that might predict cognitive decline.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 55 or older with end-stage renal disease, particularly those with secondary hyperparathyroidism or elevated PTH who are receiving dialysis.
Not a fit: People without kidney failure or elevated PTH, and those with advanced dementia, are unlikely to benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to a modifiable blood marker that helps prevent or slow dementia in older adults on dialysis.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior studies in non-dialysis populations and preliminary data suggest links between PTH and cognition, but high-quality longitudinal studies in dialysis patients are scarce.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mathur, Aarti — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Mathur, Aarti
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.