Alzheimer’s and related dementia in older adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes
Official title: Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias in Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: The Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study AD/ADRD Project
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11537840 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant aims to understand why cognitive problems occur in people 65 and older who have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, using data from a long-running diabetes study to identify what drives memory and thinking decline.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $15,685,993 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AG078558-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11537840 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (mean age around 72) with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes who are participants or eligible for the DPPOS cohort.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without prediabetes or type 2 diabetes or those not in the DPPOS cohort may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
The project uses the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study cohort, which already follows older adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, to study brain changes and cognitive function. It combines advanced Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia phenotyping with existing health data to look at factors like glucose control, metabolic issues, and vascular problems. Researchers will examine how medications like metformin, physical activity, and frailty influence cognitive outcomes, and how these relate to different brain pathologies. The goal is to clarify the mechanisms behind cognitive impairment in this high-risk group and identify targets for prevention or intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide personalized strategies to reduce dementia risk and preserve thinking and memory in older adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that metabolic and vascular factors contribute to cognitive decline in diabetes, but this project adds deeper AD/ADRD phenotyping in a well-characterized cohort, representing a novel and comprehensive approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Luchsinger, Jose Alejandro — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Luchsinger, Jose Alejandro
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Alzheimer’s and dementia risk in people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes
This grant aims to understand why some older adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes develop memory problems or dementia.
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Alzheimer's and related dementia risk in people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
This project looks at brain changes, memory, medications, and health measures in older adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes to find what leads to dementia.
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Investigating cognitive impairment in older adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
This study is looking at how prediabetes and type 2 diabetes might impact thinking and memory in older adults, and it aims to find ways to help prevent these issues by understanding different health factors and habits.
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Investigating cognitive impairment in older adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
This study is looking at how prediabetes and type 2 diabetes might impact thinking and memory in older adults, especially those at risk for Alzheimer's and similar conditions, to find ways to help prevent or treat cognitive decline.
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ONWARD: Helping teens and young adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes get the resources they need
A study tests easy, in-clinic and post-visit resource help for teens and young adults with type 2 diabetes to address social needs that affect their health.
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Smartphone and smartwatch screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
This project uses data from smartphones and smartwatches to spot early signs of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in adults who have no symptoms.
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.