Age-related Dementia and Brain Pathology in the Oldest-Old: A Long-Term Lifecourse Study
Official title: Epidemiology of Age-related Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Brain Pathology in Cohort of Oldest-Old
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11378167 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, long-running study is following people aged 90 and up to understand how Alzheimer’s disease and related brain changes develop over many years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2017 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $5,098,158 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG056519-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378167 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People aged 90 and older, and their families, who are willing to participate in regular visits, cognitive testing, interviews, and possible brain donation.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without dementia may not directly benefit, though the study contributes to general knowledge.
What this research studies
This study tracks cognitive health, brain changes, and biomarkers in the oldest-old, enrolling participants who have been followed since earlier decades. Participants undergo regular clinical exams, neuropsychology testing, interviews about life experiences, and, for some, brain scans and donation for pathology after life. The research collects data on blood-based biomarkers and uses the ATN framework to link amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration to cognitive aging. By comparing diverse backgrounds and lifecourse experiences, the study aims to reveal how dementia progresses in the very old and identify factors that influence brain health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could improve understanding and future prevention or treatment of dementia in very late life.
How similar studies have gone: Early investigations in older populations have shown substantial heterogeneity in cognitive trajectories and brain pathology, but this cohort provides deeper insights in the oldest-old.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Whitmer, Rachel a — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Whitmer, Rachel a
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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.