35-year memory and thinking changes in people with psychosis

Trajectories and Determinants of Cognitive Decline in Psychotic Disorders Over 35 Years

NIH-funded research State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11230256

This project tracks memory and thinking over 35 years in people who had psychotic disorders and in similar adults without psychosis as they reach older age.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionState University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stony Brook, United States)
Project IDNIH-11230256 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be part of a group that began in 1989 following people after a first episode of psychosis and demographically matched adults without psychosis. At the 35-year follow-up (when most participants are around 65), researchers will repeat cognitive tests, medical exams, physical performance tests, and EEGs and will use existing genetic data. The team will compare rates of thinking and memory decline between people with psychosis and never-psychotic peers and look for medical, genetic, and functional factors linked to decline. The goal is to understand when decline starts and how it affects everyday functioning.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with a history of psychotic disorder (from first-episode onward) and demographically matched adults without psychosis, typically in the middle-aged to older adult range and able to complete clinic evaluations.

Not a fit: People without a history of psychosis, children and young adults under 21, or anyone seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this observational follow-up.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify who faces highest risk for early dementia after psychosis and suggest targets for prevention or slowing cognitive decline.

How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked psychotic disorders to earlier dementia, but very few cohorts have the 35-year follow-up length that makes this investigation relatively unique.

Where this research is happening

Stony Brook, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.