How some people stay mentally sharp and emotionally resilient as they age
Biopsychosocial Mechanisms of Successful Aging
This project looks at biological, psychological, and social reasons why some older adults keep their memory and thinking skills strong—even when brain tests show changes linked to Alzheimer’s.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260178 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I would join a comparison of older adults who keep youthful memory and brain patterns and those who show typical age-related decline. Researchers use brain scans, Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers, cognitive tests, and questions about mood and how people experience challenging tasks. They study brain anatomy and connectivity and note how pleasant or arousing tasks feel to identify patterns tied to successful aging. The goal is to find behaviors or biological targets that might help more people stay resilient as they grow older.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are older adults (commonly 60–80 years) willing to do cognitive testing, brain imaging, and biomarker sampling, including people with or without Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia, those unable to undergo MRI/PET scans, or those unwilling to complete testing or provide samples are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to preserve memory and emotional well-being in older adults and to new targets for preventing dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have found individuals who remain cognitively resilient despite Alzheimer’s biomarkers, but translating those findings into proven treatments is still early and experimental.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dickerson, Bradford C — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Dickerson, Bradford C
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.