Vision and memory in people with end‑stage kidney disease (VIS‑HD)
Official title: Understanding Vision Impairment in ESKD to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Dementia/Alzheimer’s disease: the VIS-HD Cohort Study
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11247531 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will see whether treating and understanding vision problems can help protect thinking and lower dementia risk for adults with end‑stage kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $825,065 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG086252-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247531 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with end‑stage kidney disease (including people on dialysis) who can complete eye exams and brief thinking tests are the best fit.
✕Less likely to help
People without kidney failure, children, or patients whose vision loss is permanent from advanced retinal damage may not see direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
If you have end‑stage kidney disease (ESKD), researchers at NYU will enroll people like you to measure vision, eye health, and thinking abilities over time. They will look for how common different vision problems are, what causes them, and whether they can be fixed or treated. Participants will get vision exams, retinal imaging and questionnaires, cognitive tests, and their medical records will be reviewed to link eye problems with thinking and dementia risk. The team will also study barriers to getting eye care and treatment so they can suggest ways to improve screening and access for people on dialysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: May identify treatable vision problems and care gaps that, if addressed, could lower the chance of cognitive decline and dementia in people with kidney failure.
How similar studies have gone: Work in community-dwelling older adults links vision problems to cognitive decline and shows treatable vision issues can sometimes improve outcomes, but studies specifically in ESKD patients are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcadams Demarco, Mara a. — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Mcadams Demarco, Mara a.
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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.