Shingles-related blood particles that may raise vascular dementia risk
Official title: Pathogenic exosomes during herpes zoster mediate increased vascular dementia risk
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11195062 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether tiny blood particles released during shingles cause blood-vessel inflammation or clotting that can increase the chance of vascular dementia in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $613,158 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG085406-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195062 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults who recently had herpes zoster (shingles) and are willing to provide blood samples and follow-up information.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of shingles or those with non-vascular forms of dementia are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
What this research studies
If you recently had shingles, researchers may collect a blood sample to isolate tiny particles called exosomes that come from infected tissues. They will measure the proteins inside those exosomes to see if they promote inflammation or make blood more likely to clot. Lab tests will examine whether these exosomes can damage brain blood vessels or trigger clots that lead to stroke and later vascular dementia. The team combines patient blood samples with laboratory models to link shingles infections to long-term blood-vessel problems in the brain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to lower vascular dementia risk after shingles by targeting the harmful exosomes or their effects.
How similar studies have gone: Epidemiologic studies have linked shingles to higher vascular dementia risk and shown vaccination or antiviral treatment lowers that risk, but studying exosomes as the mechanism is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bubak, Andrew N — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Bubak, Andrew N
Related research
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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.