Tiny blood vessels in the brain's memory center and memory loss from high blood pressure
Official title: The Role of the Hippocampal Vasculature in Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Funded at State University of Ny,binghamton · NIH-11305300 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing whether long-term high blood pressure damages tiny blood vessels in the hippocampus and causes memory problems in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of Ny,binghamton NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Binghamton, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $501,116 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS127284-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11305300 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with long-standing hypertension, especially older adults with early memory changes or at risk for vascular cognitive impairment, would be most relevant.
✕Less likely to help
People whose dementia is driven mainly by nonvascular causes without high blood pressure, or healthy individuals without hypertension, may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies how chronic high blood pressure affects the tiny arterioles that supply blood to the hippocampus, the brain region important for memory. Using animal models and tissue studies, the team will measure vessel function, hippocampal blood flow, and memory-related outcomes across different ages. Their prior work showed vessel dysfunction appears before drops in blood flow and memory loss, so they will track when and how these changes develop. The aim is to connect vessel damage to memory decline to guide ways to protect brain blood flow.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to ways to protect hippocampal blood flow and slow memory decline in people with chronic high blood pressure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have shown hippocampal vessel dysfunction and reduced perfusion linked to memory problems, but translating those findings into human therapies is not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of Ny,binghamton
Binghamton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chapman, Abbie C — State University of Ny,binghamton
- Study coordinator: Chapman, Abbie 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.