How education and early life factors affect cognitive health in older adults

Educational and Early Life Predictors of Mild Cognitive Impairment: New Evidence about Mediators and Moderators from High School & Beyond

NIH-funded research University of Minnesota · NIH-10724953

This study is looking at how your education and early life experiences, along with your medication use, might affect your thinking skills as you get older, and it’s for older adults who want to help us understand these connections better.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Minnesota NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Minneapolis, United States)
Project IDNIH-10724953 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the relationship between educational experiences and early life factors on cognitive functioning in older adults. By analyzing prescription drug histories and compliance, the study aims to understand how these factors influence cognitive health over time. Participants will provide consent to link their educational records with pharmacy data, allowing researchers to explore the impact of medication on cognitive performance. The findings could reveal important insights into the biological and social processes that affect cognitive decline.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who have a history of educational experiences and are currently managing health conditions that require medication.

Not a fit: Patients who are younger than 50 years old or do not have any cognitive health concerns may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing or managing cognitive impairment in older adults.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that educational attainment and medication adherence can significantly impact cognitive health, suggesting that this approach has potential for meaningful insights.

Where this research is happening

Minneapolis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.