Tracking brain fluid flow in aging and Alzheimer's
Imaging brain-wide subarachnoid and perivascular cerebrospinal fluid flow in aging and Alzheimer's disease
This project uses advanced MRI to map how cerebrospinal fluid moves across the whole brain in older adults and people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11379342 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, you'll have advanced MRI scans that track cerebrospinal fluid moving through spaces around blood vessels and over the surface of the brain. The team is developing a new whole-brain MRI technique to image areas that were previously hard to see, like the subarachnoid and perivascular spaces. They will scan older adults and people with Alzheimer's and compare fluid flow patterns with measures of age and protein buildup linked to Alzheimer's. The goal is to link changes in brain fluid flow to disease and aging and to create a sensitive imaging tool for future diagnosis or trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults and people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (including mild cognitive impairment) who can safely undergo MRI scans.
Not a fit: People who cannot have MRI (for example due to metal implants, pacemakers, or severe claustrophobia) or whose condition is unrelated to Alzheimer's are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could reveal early waste-clearance problems in Alzheimer's and help guide better diagnosis or treatments that target fluid clearance.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have linked CSF flow to removal of toxic proteins, but whole-brain human imaging of subarachnoid and perivascular flow is largely new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dong, Zijing — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Dong, Zijing
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.