Risk factors for cognitive decline across the lifespan in twin families
Official title: Past, Present, and Future Risk of Cognitive Decline and Cognitive Impairment in the Louisville Twin Study
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11445624 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study using twins and their relatives to understand what tends to increase or protect against cognitive decline as people age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2019 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,057,196 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AG063949-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11445624 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are individuals from the Louisville Twin Study families and their relatives who are willing to contribute longitudinal cognitive and biomarker data.
✕Less likely to help
Participants not experiencing cognitive decline or who do not participate in long-term follow-up may not see direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project follows a large group of twins, their siblings, and parents to map how early-life, mid-life, and late-life factors influence cognitive health and the risk of dementia. It builds on previous research with a focus on how genetic and family-based environments shape aging-related brain changes. Researchers will collect and analyze data across decades to identify which factors correlate with better or worse cognitive outcomes. The goal is to reveal targets for prevention and early intervention that could help people across the lifespan.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform personalized prevention strategies and public health approaches to reduce dementia risk.
How similar studies have gone: Twin-based and longitudinal cohorts have previously contributed to understanding dementia risk, but this project uniquely expands to include more family members and lifespan coverage.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beam, Christopher Ryan — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Beam, Christopher Ryan
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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.