Understanding how hidden blood vessel changes affect Alzheimer's disease in diverse communities
Official title: Subclinical Vascular Contributions to Alzheimer's Disease: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) Multisite Study of AD (Renewal)
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11120888 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how subtle changes in blood vessels might contribute to Alzheimer's disease and related memory problems in older adults from different backgrounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2018 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $4,677,012 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG058969-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11120888 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are older adults, aged 65 and above, particularly those from diverse ethnic backgrounds who have been part of the original MESA cohort.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not part of the existing MESA cohort or those under 65 years of age would not directly benefit from participation in this specific renewal.
What this research studies
This project continues a long-term effort to understand how small changes in blood vessels might lead to memory and thinking problems, including Alzheimer's disease. It builds on the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), which has followed thousands of older adults from diverse backgrounds for over two decades. Researchers are examining how early signs of vascular disease, like those found in blood tests and imaging, connect to changes in brain health and memory. The goal is to better understand these links, especially considering how they might differ across various ethnic groups and genders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify early risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, potentially leading to new ways to prevent or treat these conditions.
How similar studies have gone: This project is a renewal, indicating prior success in recruiting participants and demonstrating initial associations between vascular biomarkers and cognitive decline.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hughes, Timothy M. — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Hughes, Timothy M.
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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.