# NAD+ Therapy for Improving Memory & Cerebrovasular Function in Patients with MCI

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · 2020 · $133,137

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
CANDIDATE: Christopher R. Martens, Ph.D., is a fellow training in the integrative physiology of aging at the
University of Colorado Boulder. In this K01 application, Dr. Martens aims to study the efficacy of a novel NAD+
boosting and calorie restriction-mimetic compound, nicotinamide riboside (NR), for reducing large elastic artery
stiffness and blood pressure in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and to relate these
outcomes to improvements in cerebrovascular, cognitive and neuronal function. His immediate goal is to acquire
the research training and professional skills necessary to transition to an independent investigator. His long-
term goal is to establish his own research program, with a focus on identifying strategies for improving
cerebrovascular and cognitive/neuronal function and reducing risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in older adults.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Dr. Martens proposes to enhance his career development by: 1) acquiring
new skills in the assessment of cerebrovascular, cognitive and neuronal function to support his proposed
research plan; 2) receiving training in aMCI and AD pathophysiology, geriatrics and biostatistics; and 3) refining
his professional skills through formal course work, attendance and presentations at weekly journal clubs,
university seminars, and national scientific meetings, and through regular interactions with his mentoring team.
ENVIRONMENT: Dr. Martens will train in an outstanding aging research environment supported by a multi-
disciplinary team of mentors who will provide him with research and career development training. The primary
mentor, Dr. Seals, is an internationally recognized NIA-funded scientist with a strong record of successful
mentoring in vascular aging research. Co-Mentor Dr. Hughson is a leading expert in cerebrovascular function
and brain aging, and Dr. Bettcher has extensive experience assessing cognitive function in patients with aMCI.
Dr. Banich is director of the neuroimaging center at CU-Boulder and has extensive experience with the
proposed MRI-based assessments of neuronal function and structure. Dr. McQueen is director of biostatistics
at the CU-Boulder Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) and regularly provides mentoring and
consulting to trainees and faculty conducting clinical trials. Co-mentors Dr. Potter and Dr. Schwartz are senior
NIA investigators with expertise in AD and geriatric medicine, respectively, and their mentorship will
complement the research training & objectives. RESEARCH: aMCI is the earliest symptomatic stage in the
development of AD, which is among the fastest growing causes of morbidity and mortality in the US. Stiffening
of the large elastic arteries (i.e., the aorta and carotid arteries) occurs with aging and has been linked to the
development of aMCI and AD, primarily through the transmission of damaging pressure waves to the cerebral
vasculature, resulting in cerebrovascular dysfunction and ne...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9895601
- **Project number:** 5K01AG054731-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
- **Principal Investigator:** Christopher Martens
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $133,137
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-15 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9895601

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9895601, NAD+ Therapy for Improving Memory & Cerebrovasular Function in Patients with MCI (5K01AG054731-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9895601. Licensed CC0.

---

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