How prior knowledge helps memory in aging and Alzheimer's disease
Official title: A Neurocognitive Basis of Remembering Driven by Prior Semantic Knowledge
Funded at Univ of Maryland, College Park · NIH-11392910 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how what we already know shapes what we remember, especially in older adults and people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $233,230 |
| NIH project number | 5R00NS126492-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392910 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older who have or are at risk for Alzheimer's disease dementia and related cognitive conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without memory or cognitive impairments are less likely to directly benefit.
What this research studies
A researcher aims to understand how perceptual cues and our existing knowledge interact to influence what gets remembered. The work uses computational models and neural data to explore memory formation in aging and cognitive disorders. By focusing on semantic knowledge in brain regions like the anterior temporal lobe, the project hopes to identify mechanisms that could lead to memory interventions for people with memory deficits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform new strategies to support memory in aging and Alzheimer's by leveraging prior knowledge.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked semantic knowledge to memory performance, suggesting the approach is promising but still being developed.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Maryland, College Park
College Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xie, Weizhen — Univ of Maryland, College Park
- Study coordinator: Xie, Weizhen
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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.