# COVID-19 related inflammation as a risk factor for age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's Disease

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2024 · $195,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 More than 85 million cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the US alone, and up to 40% of survivors
report Long-COVID symptoms including cognitive impairments. Together with evidence that inflammation
during adulthood increases risk for later cognitive decline, this raises the prospect that the COVID-19
pandemic will cause a future “second pandemic” in Alzheimer’s disease and age-related dementias. In this
project, we will identify specific mechanisms by which single stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses (e.g., SARS-COV-
2) triggered innate immune signaling contributes to long-lasting memory impairments, exaggerated cognitive
decline during aging, and risk for dementias including Alzheimer’s disease. Our main goal is to determine the
impact of innate immune signaling as a consequence of ssRNA viruses on exaggeration of age-related
cognitive decline and risk for dementias including Alzheimer’s Disease. We will use a subchronic inflammation
protocol, established in my laboratory, together with behavioral tests of memory, protein biochemistry, and
gene expression assays to identify persistent changes in inflammatory state and neuroplasticity mechanisms
that exacerbate cognitive decline. We will use wild-type mice and APP/PS1 transgenic mice to determine
whether TLR7-induced inflammation causes acceleration of age-related cognitive decline and AD-like
pathology. Findings from this project will demonstrate how COVID-19, and other TLR7-induced inflammation
increases risk for dementia; identify sex differences in COVID-related vulnerability to cognitive decline; and
provide a basis for novel preventive strategies and treatments to reduce risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other
dementias in the post-COVID-19 population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10811722
- **Project number:** 5R21AG081685-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Natalie Celia Tronson
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $195,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-04-01 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10811722

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10811722, COVID-19 related inflammation as a risk factor for age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's Disease (5R21AG081685-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10811722. Licensed CC0.

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