Dimensional Complexity as a Brain Biomarker for Resilience in Aging and Dementia
Official title: Dimensional Complexity as a Biomarker for Resilience in Aging and Dementia (DC-RAD)
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-11426661 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A biomarker from resting-state brain scans may help predict which people are likely to stay cognitively healthy as they age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $624,029 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG102936-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11426661 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults at risk for cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s-type dementia, who could undergo MRI and related assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without risk factors or those unable to undergo MRI may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests whether a novel brain-measure called Dimensional Complexity (DC), derived from resting-state fMRI, can forecast cognitive resilience in older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s-related dementia. Using large datasets like ADNI and rrAD, the team will build and validate a DC-based prognostic model and see if it identifies who benefits most from vascular risk reduction and exercise. The work also aims to uncover the biological basis of DC by linking it to physiological markers. If successful, DC could become a tool to personalize preventative strategies for aging individuals with cognitive risk. Participation would involve imaging and related assessments in well-characterized cohorts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If DC proves reliable, it could guide personalized prevention plans to preserve cognition in aging adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show promise for brain-complexity metrics in predicting cognitive trajectories, but this specific DC biomarker is in validation stages.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scheel, Norman — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Scheel, Norman
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How speaking two languages affects memory and dementia risk
This project compares older adults who speak two languages with those who speak one to find out if bilingualism helps protect thinking and delay dementia.
-
Understanding how being bilingual affects brain health in aging and dementia.
This study is looking at how speaking two languages might help older adults, especially those with Alzheimer’s or related conditions, stay mentally sharp over time, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding how bilingualism could protect against memory loss.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
-
Long-term Effects of a Natural Disaster on Cognitive Aging and Dementia in Older Adults
This project follows older adults affected by a major natural disaster to understand how long-term stress may influence aging, memory, and risk for dementia.
-
Sleep and aging brain resilience in a short-lived vertebrate model
A young-aged-friendly project explores how sleep quality affects brain health during aging, using a tiny, fast-lived fish model to understand Alzheimer’s-related changes.
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.