Understanding cerebrospinal fluid flow in aging and Alzheimer's disease

Imaging brain-wide subarachnoid and perivascular cerebrospinal fluid flow in aging and Alzheimer's disease

NIH-funded research Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10890172

This study is looking at how the fluid in your brain moves, especially as we age and in people with Alzheimer's, to see if understanding this flow can help us find better ways to treat the disease.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMassachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-10890172 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to investigate how cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flows in the brain, particularly in relation to aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). By developing advanced imaging techniques, the study will explore CSF flow dynamics in areas of the brain that are crucial for clearing toxic proteins associated with AD. The goal is to better understand how disruptions in CSF flow may contribute to the progression of Alzheimer's and related dementias. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to new treatment strategies targeting CSF flow and clearance.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, as well as healthy older adults for comparative analysis.

Not a fit: Patients with other neurological conditions unrelated to Alzheimer's disease may not receive direct benefits from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and potential new therapies for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

How similar studies have performed: While studies on CSF flow have been conducted in animals, this approach is novel in humans and aims to fill significant gaps in understanding CSF dynamics in the context of Alzheimer's disease.

Where this research is happening

Boston, 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.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementiaAlzheimer syndromeAlzheimer's Disease
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.