Investigating brain aging and cognition in older adults with epilepsy
Official title: BRain Aging and Cognition in Epilepsy (BRACE): A longitudinal investigation of vascular, genetic, and biomarker risk profiles in elderly patients with epilepsy
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10894264 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how epilepsy impacts thinking and brain health in older adults aged 55 to 90, and it aims to find out what factors might speed up aging in the brain, so we can help prevent or slow down memory problems like dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $690,969 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS120976-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10894264 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 55 to 90 who have been diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy or frontal lobe epilepsy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients under the age of 55 or those without a diagnosis of epilepsy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how epilepsy affects cognitive and brain aging in older adults, particularly those aged 55 to 90. It aims to identify the vascular, genetic, and biomarker risk factors associated with accelerated aging in this population. By conducting a longitudinal study across multiple diverse epilepsy centers, researchers will gather advanced neuroimaging and neuropsychological data from patients with temporal and frontal lobe epilepsy. The goal is to uncover mechanisms of cognitive decline and find ways to prevent or mitigate the progression to dementia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing cognitive decline and dementia in older adults with epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding cognitive decline in older adults with neurological conditions, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdonald, Carrie R — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Mcdonald, Carrie R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Brain aging and thinking in older adults with epilepsy
This project follows older adults with temporal or frontal lobe epilepsy to find blood tests, genes, blood vessel measures, and brain scan patterns linked to faster memory and thinking decline.
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How early-life spending shape aging and dementia risk later in life
A Stanford-led study looks at how state and county spending in childhood may influence midlife thinking skills and the risk of dementia in later life.
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LENS: Predicting brain aging and surgical outcomes in epilepsy with AI
A patient-focused overview of using brain imaging and AI to better predict how epilepsy affects thinking, aging, and treatment results across ages.
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How aging affects memory-related brain circuits
Researchers compare changes in memory brain circuits across older male and female animals to learn about memory problems that affect older adults.
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Technology to support thinking and social life for older adults with mild cognitive impairment
A multi-site program is developing an adaptive software to help older adults with mild cognitive impairment stay sharp, manage daily tasks, and stay socially connected.
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Combining aging surveys to understand memory, Alzheimer's, and dementia care
This project brings together long-term survey data from many countries and adds things like air pollution and care-policy information to see how they relate to memory, mild cognitive problems, and Alzheimer's risk in older adults.
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.