SARS-CoV-2, APOE, and dementia: how COVID-19 affects thinking in aging and Alzheimer’s
Official title: Acute and Long-Term Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and its Interaction with APOE on Cognitive Function and Neuropathology in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11370014 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how COVID-19 may impact brain function and pathology in people with aging or Alzheimer's disease, including how APOE genes might influence the effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $700,148 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG077772-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370014 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with aging-related cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease, and who have or are at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection, may be eligible.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without cognitive impairment or dementia or those not affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has aging-related cognitive concerns or Alzheimer’s disease, this project looks at how a COVID-19 infection could affect thinking and brain health over time. The researchers plan to study genetic factors like APOE that may make the brain more vulnerable after infection and to examine changes in brain pathology. By following patients and analyzing brain-related data, the study aims to uncover mechanisms linking SARS-CoV-2 infection to cognitive decline. Results could guide future care strategies for people with dementia who also had COVID-19.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could lead to better understanding and management of cognitive symptoms in older adults who have had COVID-19 and dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Early studies show a link between severe COVID-19 and later cognitive issues, but this project seeks to clarify genetic and neuropathological connections.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Ling — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Li, Ling
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding COVID-19's Effects on Brain Health in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
This project looks at how COVID-19 affects thinking and brain health over time, especially in older adults and those with a gene linked to Alzheimer's.
-
How COVID-19 infection and genes may influence memory and dementia risk
This study looks at how getting COVID-19 and a person’s genes together affect the chance of developing memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
-
Alzheimer’s-related dementia after COVID-19: how SARS-CoV-2 affects the brain and potential drug repurposing
This research looks at how COVID-19 may contribute to dementia by studying brain inflammation, blood vessel injury, and virus-host interactions, with the goal of finding existing drugs that could help.
-
How COVID-19 and genetics influence memory and dementia risk in older adults
This project studies how getting COVID-19 interacts with people’s genetic makeup to affect the likelihood of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease in older adults from diverse backgrounds.
-
How COVID-19 and genetic differences may affect memory and Alzheimer's risk across diverse populations
This project will find out whether having COVID-19 together with certain genetic differences raises the chance of memory loss and Alzheimer's disease in older adults from varied ancestral backgrounds.
-
How COVID-19 and genes may affect memory and Alzheimer's risk in diverse communities
This project looks at whether COVID-19 infection together with genetic differences raises the chance of memory loss and Alzheimer's disease in older adults from diverse ancestries.
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.