Cohort study following older adults to understand aging, memory loss, and dementia over time
Official title: The Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Aging
Funded at Queen's University Belfast · NIH-11366098 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study of people aged 65 and older to learn more about aging, memory problems, dementia, and related health factors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Queen's University Belfast NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belfast, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,092,659 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG091464-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366098 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 65 and older who participate in NICOLA or similar aging cohorts and are willing to provide data over multiple years.
✕Less likely to help
Participants not interested in long-term follow-up or cognitive assessments may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project continues the NICOLA cohort to collect another round of data on aging, cognition, health conditions, and biomarkers in older adults. It includes detailed cognitive testing with the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol and plans for data linkage to help researchers study aging patterns relevant to the US population. The research team will explore how social, environmental, and biological factors influence frailty, memory loss, and care needs over time. The findings could inform strategies to prevent or manage dementia and improve quality of life for older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could lead to better understanding of aging and dementia, informing prevention, care planning, and health policies for older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Longitudinal aging cohorts have shown valuable insights into cognitive aging and dementia risk, with growing data resources.
Where this research is happening
-
Queen's University Belfast
Belfast, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcguinness, Bernadette — Queen's University Belfast
- Study coordinator: Mcguinness, Bernadette
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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.