Centenarian Memory and Biospecimen Program
Phenotyping and Biospecimen Core
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · NIH-11190875
This project follows people aged 100+, their grown children, and spouses to collect memory tests, blood samples, brain scans, and tissue donations to learn why some people keep their memory sharp.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11190875 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From your perspective, the team first finds very old adults with unusually strong thinking skills (centenarian 'superagers'), their children, and spouses from two long-running studies. Participants get yearly, COVID-safe virtual memory testing that matches other major studies, give blood for Alzheimer's-related markers and genetics, and may be offered brain scans or the chance to donate tissue after death. Experts meet to agree on diagnoses so the results are consistent and reliable, and all data are stored securely in REDCap for careful quality control and sharing with approved researchers. The goal is to build a well-characterized group to study the biology of preserved thinking across generations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people aged around 100 with preserved cognition, their adult offspring, and spouses who are willing to do annual virtual cognitive tests and provide blood samples and, if possible, imaging or post-mortem tissue donation.
Not a fit: People without a centenarian connection, those unwilling to give biospecimens or participate in testing, or minors are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from joining this effort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological markers and patterns tied to lifelong memory resilience that may guide prevention or future treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous centenarian and biomarker studies have produced useful clues about aging and Alzheimer's, but combining large groups of centenarian 'superagers' with their offspring and standardized yearly measures is a relatively new and promising approach.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ANDERSEN, STACY — BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
- Study coordinator: ANDERSEN, STACY
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.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia, Alzheimer syndrome