Better ways to measure brain health and age-related memory problems
Project 4: Precision Methods for Assessing Brain Health and Age-related Cognitive Impairment
This project is creating precise tests and combining health, genetic, and lifestyle information to spot and track thinking and memory changes in older adults, including those at risk for Alzheimer’s.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184311 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to take validated online thinking and memory tests regularly, and a smaller group would come for in-person visits for blood samples, scans, and other measurements. The team will combine molecular, genetic, physiological, biometric, clinical, cognitive, social, lifestyle, and environmental data. Researchers will use new methods to integrate these different data sources to create clearer pictures of each person’s brain health. The effort includes about 1,620 people seen face-to-face and over 50,000 tracked over time with online testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults worried about memory or thinking changes, including those with mild cognitive concerns or a family history of Alzheimer’s, who can complete online tests and possibly attend an in-person visit, would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia who cannot complete tests or individuals seeking immediate treatment rather than long-term monitoring may not get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help catch memory and thinking problems earlier and guide more personalized plans to preserve brain health.
How similar studies have performed: Previous large studies using online cognitive testing and biomarkers have shown promising signals, but combining molecular, genetic, sensor, and lifestyle data at this scale is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Tucson, United States
- University of Arizona — Tucson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schork, Nicholas Joseph — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Schork, Nicholas Joseph
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 below.