Tracking small blood vessel changes in the brain of older adults without dementia
Longitudinal validation of cerebral small vessel disease biomarkers in diverse community-based older adults without dementia
Researchers will follow older adults without dementia over time to see whether brain scans and lab markers reveal small blood vessel damage tied to thinking and memory.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195081 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a diverse group of older adults without dementia who have regular visits with brain scans (MRI), blood tests, and memory checks over several years. The project uses biomarker methods chosen by the MarkVCID consortium to measure signs of small vessel disease in the brain and blood. Study teams will compare these measures over time and, when available, link them to brain tissue findings to confirm what the markers mean. Multiple centers will work together to make sure the markers are reliable across different communities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults without dementia, especially people from diverse communities (including African American participants), who can attend regular visits and agree to brain imaging and blood draws.
Not a fit: People who already have dementia or who cannot undergo MRI scans or blood sampling are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help detect small-vessel brain damage earlier and guide ways to prevent or slow memory decline.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier MarkVCID and related studies have identified promising small vessel biomarkers, but thorough long-term validation in a diverse community sample remains relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Rush University Medical Center — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arfanakis, Konstantinos — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Arfanakis, Konstantinos
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.