Investigating early risk factors for dementia in young adults
Official title: National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health): Wave VI Cognition and Early Risk Factors for Dementia Project
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11004367 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how thinking skills and risk factors for Alzheimer's and related conditions change from teenage years into your 40s, to help find early signs that might predict dementia later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2021 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,724,528 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AG071450-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11004367 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who were part of the Add Health study and are currently in their mid-40s.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not part of the Add Health cohort or who are significantly younger or older than the target age group may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how cognitive functioning and risk factors for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) develop from adolescence into early adulthood. By utilizing data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, the project aims to collect detailed information on cognitive, physical, and sensory functioning in individuals who are now in their mid-40s. The study will track changes over time and identify early indicators that could predict the onset of dementia later in life. This comprehensive approach will help researchers understand the long-term effects of various risk factors on cognitive health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier identification and intervention strategies for individuals at risk of developing dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in identifying early cognitive changes and risk factors for dementia using longitudinal data, making this approach both promising and relevant.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hummer, Robert a — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Hummer, Robert a
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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.