Early-life factors shaping dementia risk and how biosocial pathways influence it
Official title: Network on Early-Life Determinants, Biosocial Pathways, and Dementia (EdDem)
Funded at Univ of Maryland, College Park · NIH-11447741 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant supports a network to study how life-long social, biological, and early-life factors contribute to dementia, with a focus on preventing dementia through understanding early origins.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $568,481 |
| NIH project number | 1R33AG102584-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447741 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk of dementia or with a family history, and communities where early-life exposures can be studied and addressed.
✕Less likely to help
People without access to early-life exposure data or those not involved in long-term follow-up may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
The EdDem network is expanding beyond education to explore a broad set of early-life exposures that may influence dementia risk. It brings together social, behavioral, and biological scientists to form multidisciplinary collaborations and generate new lines of inquiry. The project includes strengthening infrastructure and partnerships with aging centers to accelerate discoveries and ensure long-term sustainability. Through these efforts, researchers aim to uncover how early-life conditions shape dementia through social, behavioral, and biological pathways and improve rigor and reproducibility in the field.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to earlier prevention strategies and policies that reduce dementia risk starting in childhood and adolescence.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work within EdDem shows promise in linking education and life-course factors to dementia risk, with ongoing research expanding to broader early-life determinants.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Maryland, College Park
College Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walsemann, Katrina — Univ of Maryland, College Park
- Study coordinator: Walsemann, Katrina
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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.