Understanding how white-matter brain networks relate to memory decline in aging and Alzheimer's
Official title: Functional Networks of White Matter in Alzheimer's Disease and their Associations with Cognitive Decline
Funded at New Jersey Institute of Technology · NIH-11311944 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how the brain’s white-matter connections change with aging and Alzheimer’s disease and how these changes relate to cognitive decline.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New Jersey Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $614,527 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG085665-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311944 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults aged 65 and older, including those with or at risk for Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, who have undergone brain imaging or may contribute imaging data.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to brain imaging data or those outside the age range may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
As a patient or caregiver, you may be interested in how brain wiring supports thinking skills and how this wiring changes with Alzheimer’s disease. The study analyzes MRI data from thousands of people to map how white matter connects gray-matter regions and to see how these connections differ in aging, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s progression. Researchers will compare resting-state brain signals with structural brain pathways to understand potential links to memory and language changes. Findings could highlight new targets for monitoring disease progression or guiding therapies. The work leverages large public datasets to build a clearer picture of brain network changes over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could improve how we monitor disease progression and inform future therapies by revealing brain-network changes associated with cognitive decline.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that brain connectivity patterns differ with aging and dementia, but this project aims to extend those findings specifically in white-matter networks.
Where this research is happening
-
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Biswal, Bharat Bhusan — New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Biswal, Bharat Bhusan
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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.