Pathways linking pregnancy complications to later Alzheimer's and related dementias
Official title: Investigating Pathways from Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes to Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: the nuMoM2b-Brain Study
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11358418 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies whether complications during pregnancy, like high blood pressure, premature birth, or restricted fetal growth, are connected to the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and similar dementias later in life.
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 | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,914,677 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG085475-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11358418 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women with a history of placentally-mediated adverse pregnancy outcomes and their subsequent health follow-up data.
✕Less likely to help
Findings may be less directly applicable to individuals without a history of APO or without longitudinal follow-up data.
What this research studies
Researchers will use data from a large, long-running group of women who were pregnant in the early 2010s to see if pregnancy complications are linked to brain changes and dementia risk years later. The study tracks health, pregnancy details, cardiovascular risk factors, and cognitive function over time to identify meaningful connections. By linking past pregnancy outcomes with later brain health, the project aims to uncover potential pathways that could inform prevention and care for at-risk individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help identify women at higher risk for ADRD early and guide prevention strategies across the lifespan.
How similar studies have gone: Previous cohorts have shown associations between cardiovascular risk factors and dementia, but this study uniquely examines APO history as a potential early-life contributor to ADRD.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miller, Eliza C — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Miller, Eliza C
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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.