Exploring how grit can help prevent cognitive decline in aging and Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Grit against cognitive decline in aging and preclinical Alzheimer Disease
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10884017 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how having determination and staying motivated can help older adults, especially those at risk for Alzheimer's, keep their thinking skills strong even when certain brain changes are present.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $795,730 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG085377-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10884017 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include older adults who are cognitively normal but have amyloid accumulation, indicating a higher risk for developing Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease or significant cognitive impairment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between grit, or perseverance, and cognitive resilience in older adults, particularly those at risk for Alzheimer's disease. It aims to understand how motivational factors can help some individuals maintain their cognitive abilities despite the presence of amyloid, a marker associated with Alzheimer's. By examining brain structures linked to motivation, the study seeks to uncover the neural mechanisms that support this resilience. Participants may engage in tasks designed to assess their grit and cognitive function over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preserving cognitive function in aging individuals and those at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of motivational factors in cognitive resilience, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Touroutoglou, Alexandra — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Touroutoglou, Alexandra
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Grit and memory protection in aging and early Alzheimer’s disease
Aging adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease may keep sharper thinking if they have grit, and this project explores how motivation and brain signals relate to memory in at-risk older adults.
-
Grit and memory resilience in older adults with early Alzheimer's changes
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-
How inflammation-linked metabolism affects memory loss in aging and Alzheimer's
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Researchers are studying how aging affects the cerebellum and how these brain changes relate to moments of cognitive decline in people aged 65 and older.
-
Mitochondria and Thinking in Aging Brains: How Energy Rooms Affect Memory in Alzheimer’s
This project looks at how mitochondrial energy in the aging brain relates to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease in people and in people with mitochondrial DNA disorders.
-
Peripheral immune signals and blood vessel health in aging and dementia
This project looks at how platelet and neutrophil activity relate to brain changes and biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults, especially those at higher cardiovascular risk.
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.