Understanding how brain blood vessel variations affect blood flow and Alzheimer's disease in people with high blood pressure
Anatomy of the circle of Willis, cerebral blood flow, and Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in hypertension
This project looks at how differences in brain blood vessels might affect blood flow and memory in older adults with high blood pressure, which could impact Alzheimer's disease.
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 ID | NIH-11066499 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that high blood pressure can increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease by affecting how blood flows to the brain. Previous efforts to simply lower blood pressure haven't always improved memory or brain health consistently, possibly because the brain's blood vessels are already weakened. Our earlier work found an ideal blood pressure level for brain blood flow and reducing brain damage in older adults with high blood pressure. This new work focuses on variations in a key brain blood vessel network, called the circle of Willis, to see how these differences might further impact blood flow, thinking abilities, and signs of Alzheimer's disease in people with high blood pressure. We believe these variations might mean some individuals need a slightly higher blood pressure to ensure enough blood reaches their brain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future related studies would likely be older adults with high blood pressure who are at risk for or showing early signs of Alzheimer's disease.
Not a fit: Patients without hypertension or those not at risk for Alzheimer's disease may not directly benefit from the specific findings of this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors better understand how to manage blood pressure in older adults to protect brain health and reduce Alzheimer's disease risk, especially for those with specific brain vessel variations.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work by this team has identified optimal blood pressure levels for brain blood flow and reduced white matter lesion risk in older hypertensive subjects, building a foundation for this focused investigation into the circle of Willis.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Glodzik, Lidia — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Glodzik, Lidia
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.