Can patterns of spoken words in older adults help predict a memory condition
Official title: Can the pattern of lexical difficulties in healthy older adults predict amnestic mild cognitive impairment?
Funded at Georgetown University · NIH-11446796 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether how older adults use and understand words can flag people who might develop amnestic mild cognitive impairment later on.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgetown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $757,100 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG097411-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11446796 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (65 and older) who are currently healthy but may be at risk for memory changes.
✕Less likely to help
People without aging-related cognitive concerns or without risk factors for memory decline may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Georgetown University will study how lexical patterns—like word retrieval and comprehension—behave in healthy seniors and whether these patterns foretell the onset of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). The work combines linguistic tasks with brain imaging to map how word skills relate to brain regions and future cognitive changes. By identifying early lexical markers, the study aims to enable earlier monitoring and potential interventions for those at risk. The findings could pave the way for earlier diagnosis and more timely treatment planning for Alzheimer's disease risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could enable earlier detection of Alzheimer's-related risk and inform ways to monitor and support at-risk individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests lexical changes can reflect cognitive aging, but this is among the first to prospectively link lexical patterns in healthy seniors to future aMCI.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgetown University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reifegerste, Jana — Georgetown University
- Study coordinator: Reifegerste, Jana
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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.