Personalized brain markers for late-life depression
Official title: Individualized brain biomarkers of late life depression: contributions to heterogeneity and resilience
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11400347 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying brain signals to understand why late-life depression looks different in different people and how some factors help people stay resilient.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $464,438 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH128286-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400347 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 60 and older with late-life depression or related conditions who are part of the study cohorts or will be assessed.
✕Less likely to help
People without late-life depression or without involvement in the study datasets may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at brain imaging and other measures in adults over 60 who have depression to find patterns that explain why symptoms vary so much. Researchers will use existing data from large cohorts and follow participants over time to map brain changes to specific clinical features like mood, somatic symptoms, and age of onset. The goal is to identify brain profiles and resilience factors that could guide personalized care and improve outcomes for older adults with depression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to more tailored treatments and better prediction of who is at risk for severe outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked several brain measures to depression in older adults, but this project seeks to untangle heterogeneity with larger datasets and longitudinal analysis.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bijsterbosch, Janine Diane — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Bijsterbosch, Janine Diane
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Prenatal chemical exposures and childhood depression risk
This project looks at how exposure to flame retardant chemicals before birth and in early childhood may influence depression in mothers and their kids over the first eight years.
-
How gene differences and early adversity shape depression risk in young people
This NIH grant studies why some kids and teens exposed to early stress develop depression and others don’t, looking at how their genes in the brain might influence resilience or vulnerability.
-
Understanding and Supporting Young Adults with Anxiety and Depression through AI-Powered DBT Tools
A mobile health system designed to help 18-year-olds manage anxiety and depression in daily life using real-time digital support and DBT-informed guidance.
-
How neighborhood environments affect depression in adolescent girls
This study is exploring how things in your neighborhood, like parks and community centers, can impact the mental health of teenage girls, especially when considering changes during puberty and sleep quality, to find ways to help them feel better and stronger against depression.
-
Personalized brain markers for late-life depression and resilience
This project looks for unique brain patterns in people over 60 with depression to find who is more vulnerable or more resilient to worse outcomes.
-
Evaluating the effects of a maternal depression intervention on families during COVID-19
This study is looking at how helping mothers with depression can ease the mental health challenges brought on by COVID-19 for both them and their kids, especially in families that might be struggling, and it uses data from a long-term study in rural Pakistan to find ways to support mental well-being for everyone involv
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.