Finding ways to help older adults remember important tasks
Official title: Using Cognitive Offloading to Mitigate Age-Related Declines in Prospective Memory
Funded at University of Texas Arlington · NIH-11100359 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how older adults can use helpful tools, like alarms, to remember important tasks better as their memory changes, and it aims to find easy ways to support them in staying independent.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Arlington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Arlington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $38,271 |
| NIH project number | 3R16GM146705-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11100359 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing memory declines or difficulties with prospective memory.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing age-related memory issues or cognitive decline may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how older adults can use external tools, like alarms, to help them remember important tasks, especially as they experience memory declines. It focuses on understanding the cognitive processes behind memory failures and how training in specific strategies can improve memory performance. By combining behavioral observations and physiological measurements, the research aims to identify when memory breakdowns occur and how to effectively support older adults in maintaining their independence. The ultimate goal is to create practical solutions that can be easily implemented in daily life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the ability of older adults to remember important tasks, enhancing their independence and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that cognitive offloading strategies can be effective in improving memory performance in older adults, suggesting a promising avenue for this study.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Arlington
Arlington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ball, Brett Hunter — University of Texas Arlington
- Study coordinator: Ball, Brett Hunter
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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.