Vitamin D, gut bacteria, and dementia risk in older adults with HIV
Vitamin D and Gut Microbiota and Dementia Risk in Older Adults with Chronic HIV infection and Demographically Matched Community Controls
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 ID | NIH-11326348 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: Younger people, children, or individuals with advanced dementia who cannot complete assessments or provide samples are unlikely to benefit directly from this observational work.
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 performed: 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
East Lansing, United States
- 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
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 below.