Understanding Brain Health After Pregnancy Complications

NINDS R01 - Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment after Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: the nuMoM2b-Heart Health Study

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11320957

This research looks at how pregnancy complications might affect a mother's brain health and memory later in life.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-11320957 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

We are inviting women who previously participated in the nuMoM2b-Heart Health research to join this new effort. Our goal is to understand if adverse pregnancy outcomes, like preeclampsia or preterm delivery, are linked to changes in thinking and memory as women age. We will conduct neurocognitive assessments and brain imaging, such as MRI, to look for early signs of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment. This information could help us identify women at higher risk and develop ways to protect their brain health.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are women who previously enrolled in the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-be Heart Health Study (nuMoM2b-HHS).

Not a fit: Patients who did not participate in the original nuMoM2b-HHS study would not be eligible for direct participation in this specific ancillary research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify women at risk for cognitive decline after pregnancy complications, potentially leading to earlier interventions and better long-term brain health strategies.

How similar studies have performed: While the link between adverse pregnancy outcomes and future cardiovascular risk is known, the direct impact on maternal vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia is largely unexamined, making this a novel area of focus.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.