Alzheimer's and related dementia risk in people with prediabetes and 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-11367296 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $15,462,979 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AG078558-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367296 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults (most participants are 65+) with a history of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, especially those already enrolled in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study.
✕Less likely to help
People without prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, much younger adults, or those whose memory problems are due to other known causes may not see direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will work with people from the long-running Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study, most of whom are age 65 and older. You would have memory tests, blood tests for glucose, insulin, and Alzheimer’s markers, brain imaging, and detailed records of medications such as metformin, physical activity, and measures of frailty. The team will combine these tests to see which factors — including blood sugar control, medications, vascular changes, and physical function — relate to cognitive decline. Some projects will also link clinical measures to brain pathology and other dementia markers to better understand underlying causes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent or slow dementia in people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes by identifying modifiable risk factors and treatment targets.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked diabetes to higher dementia risk and used imaging and biomarkers, but combining deep diabetes phenotyping, medication effects like metformin, and AD pathology across a large older cohort is relatively novel.
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 in older adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes
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.
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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.