# Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the cerebrovasculature as a risk factor for VCID: Role of Wnt/beta-catenin

> **NIH NIH R56** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · 2024 · $561,155

## Abstract

Abstract
COVID-19 increases the risk of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). VCID is
one of the most prevalent forms of dementia, so the potential public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
on future VCID is substantial. However, the mechanisms by which COVID-19 modifies VCID are unknown.
Identifying mechanisms that regulate how prior COVID-19 influences the brain endothelial cell response to
vascular stress is important. Here, we provide preliminary evidence that COVID-19 decreases resistance to
VCID by weakening the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This is accompanied by cerebrovascular inflammation. This
grant will test the novel mechanism that SARS-CoV-2 infection accelerates VCID by suppressing
cerebrovascular Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In Aim 1, we determine how prior SARS-CoV-2 infection
influences BBB permeability and cognition upon subsequent vascular insult, by genetic and epigenetic
modification. In Aim 2 we use endothelial-targeted genetic interventions to assess the contribution of Wnt/β-
cat targets to resistance to post-infectious VCID. In Aim 3, we ask whether established post-infectious VCID
can be reversed by increasing cerebrovascular Wnt/β-catenin. These studies could lead to novel approaches
to identify individuals at high risk for VCID and novel potential therapeutic strategies to mitigate the impact of
prior infection on the development of dementia.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11086549
- **Project number:** 1R56NS138437-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah Elizabeth Lutz
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $561,155
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-15 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11086549

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11086549, Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the cerebrovasculature as a risk factor for VCID: Role of Wnt/beta-catenin (1R56NS138437-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11086549. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*