Vitamin D, gut bacteria, and dementia risk in older adults with HIV
Official title: Vitamin D and Gut Microbiota and Dementia Risk in Older Adults with Chronic HIV infection and Demographically Matched Community Controls
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-11326348 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether vitamin D levels and differences in gut bacteria are linked with dementia risk in older adults living with long-term HIV and in similar people without HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $516,660 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG087191-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326348 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults living with chronic HIV infection (particularly those in the 50–65+ age range and older) and demographically similar community members without HIV who can attend study visits and provide blood and stool samples.
✕Less likely to help
Younger people, children, or individuals with advanced dementia who cannot complete assessments or provide samples are unlikely to benefit directly from this observational work.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team will enroll older adults living with chronic HIV and demographically matched community members without HIV to collect health information, cognitive testing, blood samples for vitamin D (including active forms), and stool samples to profile gut microbes. They will compare vitamin D status and gut microbiome patterns between groups and relate those findings to current cognitive function and future dementia risk. The goal is to find modifiable biological factors that might help explain higher dementia risk in people aging with HIV. The work will include people at clinical study sites and follow participants over time to link biological measures with cognitive outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to vitamin D or gut microbiome targets that might help prevent or slow cognitive decline in older adults living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked vitamin D and gut microbiota to cognitive health, but applying this approach specifically to older adults with long-term HIV is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ezeamama, Amara E — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Ezeamama, Amara E
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Vitamin D, gut bacteria and dementia risk in older adults with HIV
This work will look at whether low vitamin D and changes in gut bacteria are linked to higher dementia risk in older adults living with chronic HIV and similar community members.
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Investigating the link between vitamin D, gut health, and dementia risk in older adults with chronic HIV.
This study is looking at how vitamin D and gut health might affect the risk of dementia in older adults with chronic HIV, to find ways to help prevent Alzheimer's and similar conditions.
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Gut bacteria, HIV, and alcohol: how microbes affect gut health in people with HIV
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Alcohol, HIV, and gut bacteria: effects on gut inflammation
Looks at whether a safe prebiotic that boosts anti-inflammatory gut bacteria can help people with HIV who drink alcohol keep their gut lining healthy and lower inflammation.
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Investigating how gut bacteria and their products may influence dementia development in diverse populations
This study is looking at how the bacteria in our gut might affect brain health and the risk of developing Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, especially in diverse groups of people who might not get diagnosed or treated quickly.
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How alcohol use affects gut health in people with HIV
This study is looking at how drinking alcohol affects gut health and inflammation in people living with HIV, and it’s testing whether taking prebiotics can help improve gut health and reduce inflammation for those individuals.
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.