Life Course Cognability: How Neighborhoods Shape Cognitive Health Across Ages
Official title: Life Course Cognability: A Mixed Methods Study of Neighborhoods and Cognitive Health
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-11451033 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how where people live and the services around them influence brain health from young adulthood through older age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $763,865 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG099180-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11451033 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults ages 18 and older, particularly those living in urban areas who want to understand how their environment may affect cognitive health.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not reside in participating metropolitan areas or who are not interested in how surroundings influence cognition may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Colorado will use mixed methods to understand which neighborhood features affect cognitive health behaviors and function across different life stages, from 18 years up to 65+. They will start with in-depth interviews of 240 adults in four major US cities to identify relevant neighborhood factors, then translate these insights into larger-scale analyses. The study introduces Cognability, a new way to measure neighborhood impact on cognition through social and behavioral pathways, and tracks these influences over time. The goal is to produce actionable knowledge about how neighborhoods contribute to cognitive health across the adult life course.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide community planning and public health interventions to promote cognitive health through neighborhood design and services.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows neighborhood factors relate to cognitive health, and this study aims to translate that into life-course and actionable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado
Boulder, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Finlay, Jessica Marie — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Finlay, Jessica Marie
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.