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-11517874 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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) | $281,093 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG087191-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11517874 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults (typically 65+) living with chronic HIV on antiretroviral therapy and demographically matched community controls who can provide blood and stool samples and complete cognitive testing.
✕Less likely to help
People younger than the study age range, those without chronic HIV who are not part of the control group, or individuals with advanced dementia are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will compare vitamin D levels and the mix of bacteria in your gut with how memory and thinking change over time in older adults with chronic HIV and demographically matched community members. You would provide blood and stool samples, complete brief cognitive tests, and share health, medication, and nutrition information during clinic visits. The team will follow participants for several years to see which patterns predict new or worsening dementia-related symptoms. The goal is to find simple, modifiable targets such as correcting vitamin D deficiency or shifting gut bacteria to lower dementia risk in this aging population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to vitamin D correction or microbiome-based approaches that help prevent or delay dementia in older adults with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Some prior research links low vitamin D or gut microbiome changes to worse cognition, but studies specifically in older adults with HIV are limited and findings are mixed.
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 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.
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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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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.