Smoking and blood vessel health linked to brain aging in adults
Official title: Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of smoking behavior with measures of subclinical vascular brain injury and microvascular function
Funded at Vassar College · NIH-11440357 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how smoking and quitting affect tiny and large blood vessels in the brain and body, and how these changes relate to brain aging and dementia risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vassar College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Poughkeepsie, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $222,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HL187223-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11440357 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older who are current or former smokers and are part of the Framingham Heart Study or similar cohorts may be eligible.
✕Less likely to help
This study does not involve a direct treatment and may not benefit individuals without a smoking history or those not in the study cohorts.
What this research studies
This study uses data from a long-running community cohort to understand how cigarette smoking and cessation influence subclinical brain injuries and microvascular function. It focuses on vascular pathways that may link smoking to cognitive decline, using brain imaging and vascular measurements over time. The goal is to identify reversible vascular factors that could reduce dementia risk in adults who smoke or have quit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform personalized strategies to protect brain health for current and former smokers.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work indicates smoking affects vascular health and brain structure; this project extends longitudinal insight into reversibility with cessation.
Where this research is happening
-
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cooper, Leroy Leon — Vassar College
- Study coordinator: Cooper, Leroy Leon
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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.