How prior knowledge helps memory in aging and Alzheimer's disease
Official title: The role of prior knowledge and event segmentation in age- and Alzheimer's-related changes in event memory
Funded at Kansas State University · NIH-11377637 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study looks at how what people already know might help them remember everyday events, and how this changes with aging and Alzheimer’s.”
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kansas State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhattan, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $381,605 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG075012-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377637 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults age 65 and older, including those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
✕Less likely to help
People without memory concerns or those not showing early Alzheimer’s changes may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project uses real-world, dynamic stimuli to study how older adults form memories of everyday activities and whether semantic knowledge helps create stable memories. Researchers will test memory for continuous experiences to see how early Alzheimer’s disease affects this process. The goal is to understand if leveraging everyday knowledge can support memory and daily decision making in older adults and those at risk for Alzheimer’s. Findings could inform strategies to improve daily living, like healthcare decisions and interactions with technology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results could lead to ways to support daily memory and decision making for people with aging-related memory changes and early Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests memory can be influenced by prior knowledge, but this project extends understanding to real-world, continuous experiences in aging and Alzheimer’s.
Where this research is happening
-
Kansas State University
Manhattan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bailey, Heather — Kansas State University
- Study coordinator: Bailey, Heather
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.