Small blood vessel damage in the brain and racial differences in Alzheimer's and vascular memory loss
Cerebral small vessel disease burden and racial disparity in vascular cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease and its related dementias
This project looks at MRI signs of small blood vessel damage in the brain and how they relate to memory and thinking problems in Black and White older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11375404 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will use brain MRI scans to measure signs of small vessel disease such as white matter changes and small strokes. They will compare how common these MRI markers are in Black and White adults and link them to memory and thinking test results and Alzheimer-related factors like APOE. The work uses clinical and imaging data from adults and follows patterns over time to see which brain changes are tied to vascular cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's-related dementia. The goal is to identify contributors to racial differences in dementia risk that could point to better prevention or tailored care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (typically older adults) who can undergo brain MRI and cognitive testing, especially Black or White individuals concerned about memory or at risk for dementia.
Not a fit: People who cannot have MRI scans, younger adults with no dementia risk factors, or those with non-Alzheimer's neurodegenerative conditions may not see direct benefits from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help explain why Black Americans have higher rates of vascular-related and Alzheimer's dementia and point to more targeted prevention or care.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked small vessel disease on MRI to cognitive decline and documented racial differences in dementia rates, but this project applies a more detailed imaging and comparative approach to those disparities.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- University of Cincinnati — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hyacinth, Hyacinth Idu — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Hyacinth, Hyacinth Idu
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.