How everyday cues and grouping help older adults remember linked information
The use of high-resolution fMRI to elucidate the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying the benefits of environmental support on associative memory in younger and older adults
This project explores whether simple environmental cues and grouping tricks can help older adults better remember linked information like names with faces while researchers take detailed brain scans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11307062 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, you'll do memory tasks that ask you to link items (for example, a name to a face) while the team uses simple cues and grouping to make those links feel like single units. You may repeat or be exposed to grouped information to strengthen those units and will complete memory tests to see what you remember. While you do the tasks, researchers will take high-resolution MRI images to observe which parts of the brain support these improvements and how older adults differ from younger adults. The team will compare results across participants to learn which easy, everyday supports help older adults form stronger memory links without needing difficult strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 65 and older who notice difficulties linking pieces of information, can travel to Penn State University Park for visits, and are medically able to undergo MRI scans.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia, severe cognitive impairment, or medical contraindications to MRI (for example, certain implants) are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to simple, non-drug techniques (such as grouping or labeling) to help older adults remember everyday associations like names, appointments, or medication instructions.
How similar studies have performed: Behavioral studies have shown that grouping and 'unitization' can improve associative memory in older adults, but combining those approaches with high-resolution fMRI to map the brain mechanisms is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
University Park, United States
- Pennsylvania State University, the — University Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dennis, Nancy Anne — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Dennis, Nancy Anne
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 below.