Understanding Cognitive Changes in Multiple Sclerosis Using Advanced Brain Imaging
Official title: Multi-Scale, Multi-Modal Imaging Assessment of Trajectories of Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11163499 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to better understand why some people with multiple sclerosis experience memory and thinking problems by looking closely at their brain changes over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 8, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $667,279 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS134646-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11163499 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this type of research would be individuals living with multiple sclerosis who are experiencing or are at risk for cognitive impairment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without multiple sclerosis or those not experiencing cognitive symptoms related to MS may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) find that their memory and thinking skills change as their disease progresses, and currently, there are no approved treatments specifically for these cognitive symptoms. This project uses advanced brain imaging, including MRI and PET scans, to get a detailed look at how brain networks and individual brain cells are affected in MS. By combining these different imaging techniques and following patients over time, we hope to uncover the specific brain changes that lead to cognitive decline. Our goal is to create tools that can help identify patients at risk for these changes, paving the way for more personalized treatments in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to identify patients with MS at risk for cognitive decline and help develop targeted treatments to preserve their thinking abilities.
How similar studies have gone: While brain network studies have linked imaging findings to cognitive impairment in MS, this research aims to resolve conflicting findings and understand the direction of these changes, suggesting a novel approach to an unresolved question.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gauthier, Susan a — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Gauthier, Susan a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Multi-Scale Brain Imaging to Track Cognitive Change in Multiple Sclerosis
A brain-imaging study in people with multiple sclerosis aims to map how brain connections relate to getting worse or staying the same in thinking skills.
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Investigating brain imaging to understand cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis
This study is looking at how multiple sclerosis affects thinking and memory by using special brain scans, and it's aimed at finding ways to create personalized treatments that can help keep your mind sharp.
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Susceptibility-based MRI biomarkers for multiple sclerosis
A short-term study aims to test MRI biomarkers that could help diagnose and predict MS in patients, using advanced imaging techniques.
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Improving Neurological Health with Brain Training for Mild Cognitive Impairment (INHANCE-MCI)
A computer-based brain training program is being tested to help people with mild cognitive impairment maintain thinking skills and daily functioning.
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Global picture of dementia risk and memory loss across the world
A large international effort gathers data from many studies to understand how dementia and memory problems develop around the world, using shared information to reveal patterns and risk factors.
-
Blood stem cell changes linked to mild memory problems and worsening kidney function
This project will see if age-related changes in blood stem cells (clonal hematopoiesis) are tied to mild thinking problems and faster kidney decline in adults.
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.