Personalized brain stimulation to boost memory in aging and dementia
Official title: Adaptive Neuromodulation of Working Memory Networks in Aging and Dementia
Funded at Trustees of Indiana University · NIH-11467666 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses personalized, adaptive brain stimulation to try to improve memory and thinking in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Trustees of Indiana University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $520,523 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AG075417-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11467666 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer's/dementia who can undergo MRI and TMS and can travel to the Bloomington site.
✕Less likely to help
People with advanced dementia, medical contraindications to TMS or MRI (for example implanted stimulators or uncontrolled seizures), or those unable to travel to the site are unlikely to benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You would receive non-invasive brain stimulation (transcranial magnetic stimulation, TMS) aimed at the brain area involved in working memory (the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex). The team will measure how your brain responds and adjust the stimulation dose and timing in real time so the treatment matches your current thinking state. They will also use MRI scans to check for cerebrovascular changes that might change how stimulation works. Repeated visits will track whether this adaptive approach improves memory and everyday thinking compared with standard approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve memory and daily thinking and provide a personalized non-drug option for people with MCI or early Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies showed TMS can change brain activity and sometimes help thinking in healthy older adults, but consistent benefits in MCI or Alzheimer's are not established and this adaptive, individualized method is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Trustees of Indiana University
Bloomington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davis, Simon W — Trustees of Indiana University
- Study coordinator: Davis, Simon W
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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.