Understanding how blood vessel disease affects thinking and memory
Official title: Mechanisms of cognitive impairment caused by atherosclerosis and red blood cell released ATP
Funded at Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr · NIH-11370668 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to find out why blocked brain vessels and RBC signals hurt memory and thinking, using mouse models and human samples to help people with Alzheimer's-related dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $816,759 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS139128-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370668 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for or diagnosed with vascular contributions to cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's-type dementia, who can provide human samples or participate in related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without cognitive impairment or vascular-related brain changes may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how atherosclerosis and red blood cell signals may drive cognitive problems linked to aging and dementia. It uses both animal models and human samples to explore mechanisms behind VCID, a contributor to vascular-related cognitive decline. By studying brain blood flow, inflammation, and nerve cell changes, the researchers hope to reveal targets for prevention and treatment that could benefit people at risk for Alzheimer's type dementia. The work is designed to connect basic biology to potential clinical applications that could slow or prevent memory loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new strategies to prevent or delay cognitive decline in people with vascular-related brain changes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked vascular disease with cognitive decline; this project builds on that foundation with translational approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
Hershey, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: He, Pingnian — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: He, Pingnian
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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.