Optimizing a closed-loop digital meditation to help cognitive aging and stress in older adults
Official title: Optimizing a closed-loop digital meditation intervention for remediating cognitive decline and reducing stress in older adults
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11536281 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile, personalized meditation program is being tested to help older adults maintain thinking skills and lower stress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $24,017 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG076668-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11536281 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults experiencing cognitive decline or at risk for cognitive impairment, including those with mild cognitive impairment and aging individuals from diverse settings.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without cognitive concerns or who are unable to use mobile interventions may see limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on a digital meditation tool that uses feedback to adapt to each user, aiming to improve attention regulation and reduce stress in older adults. It will enroll a large national sample and run entirely on mobile devices to understand who benefits most. The study will look at how changes in cognition, stress responses, and aging-related markers relate to the meditation program in real-world use. Results could inform future non-drug approaches to delay cognitive decline and dementia in aging populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could help older adults maintain cognitive function and reduce stress, potentially lowering dementia risk.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data from previous work showed cognitive and stress-related improvements with a closed-loop meditation approach, with larger-scale testing planned.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ziegler, David a — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Ziegler, David 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.