Midlife inflammatory lipids and heart disease links to late-life Alzheimer's biomarkers
Official title: Mid-life Inflammatory Lipid Metabolites and Atherosclerosis Burden as Modulators of Late-life Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11365816 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study how midlife inflammation and lipid changes tied to heart disease relate to brain biomarkers and memory in later life, with findings helping people at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $804,523 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG093987-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365816 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults around age 59–65 in midlife with cardiovascular risk factors, and later-life participants who have brain imaging and cognitive follow-up data, may benefit from the findings.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without midlife cardiovascular risk factors or without access to long-term follow-up data may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows a diverse group of participants from midlife to late life to see how heart disease risk factors, inflammation, and lipid metabolism connect to Alzheimer’s disease markers and cognitive function. Using existing cohorts, the team will analyze midlife blood and metabolic data alongside late-life brain imaging and cognitive tests to identify potential biomarkers that predict future risk. They will validate their findings in an independent cohort to strengthen the relevance to people at risk. The work combines cardiovascular science, neurology, and biostatistics to translate midlife risk signals into potential preventive targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify blood or imaging markers in midlife that flag higher risk for Alzheimer's, guiding earlier prevention efforts.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation to later-life cognitive outcomes, but this study aims to refine biomarkers and validation across cohorts.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saeed, Anum — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Saeed, Anum
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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.