Understanding how small blood vessel issues affect thinking and memory.
Official title: Elucidating microvascular contributions to cognitive impairment at single-cell resolution
Funded at J. David Gladstone Institutes · NIH-11057467 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tiny blood vessels in the brain can affect thinking and memory problems, like dementia, and aims to find new ways to help treat these issues by understanding the cells involved.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | J. David Gladstone Institutes NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | December 3, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,097,278 |
| NIH project number | 7R01NS128909-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11057467 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals experiencing cognitive decline or those diagnosed with dementia, particularly related to small vessel disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cognitive impairment due to non-vascular causes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of small blood vessels in the brain and how their dysfunction contributes to cognitive impairment and dementia. By using advanced techniques to analyze brain tissue at a single-cell level, the study aims to uncover the molecular and cellular processes involved in conditions like cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). The goal is to identify specific cell types and mechanisms that could lead to new therapeutic targets for treating dementia. Patients may benefit from insights that could inform future treatments and interventions for cognitive decline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating cognitive impairment and dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in understanding vascular contributions to cognitive impairment, but this approach using single-cell analysis is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
J. David Gladstone Institutes
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Andrew Chris — J. David Gladstone Institutes
- Study coordinator: Yang, Andrew Chris
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Proteins in brain-supporting cell vesicles linked to HIV-related cognitive issues
A study from the University of Puerto Rico investigates proteins in brain-cell vesicles found in blood and CSF to understand HIV-related cognitive impairment better.
-
GPR39-based treatment approach for aging-related brain vascular dementia
A new drug-style compound that activates GPR39 in the brain is being studied to help people with vascular dementia linked to aging.
-
Imaging tiny brain vessels to understand vascular dementia
A doctor-scientist is testing a high-resolution brain MRI method to see tiny blood vessels and blood flow in people with vascular cognitive impairment and related dementias.
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.