Staying focused as you age
Attentional Resilience in Older Adults
['FUNDING_R01'] · DUKE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11310876
This research looks at how some older adults keep their attention after surgery and during early brain changes so we can learn ways to protect thinking and memory.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | DUKE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DURHAM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11310876 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be a cognitively healthy older adult who has attention tests before and after a planned surgery to act as a natural stress on the brain. The team will measure your attention, collect brain imaging and biological markers, and track changes over time to see who keeps strong attentional control. Researchers will compare people who remain attentive with those who show declines to find brain patterns and inflammatory signals linked to resilience. The goal is to identify mechanisms that help the brain allocate attention despite injury or inflammation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults who are cognitively healthy and scheduled for elective surgery at the study site.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia, significant current cognitive impairment, or those not having planned surgery are unlikely to benefit from participating in this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to protect attention and reduce cognitive decline after surgery or during early Alzheimer-related changes.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research supports the idea that attention and cognitive reserve can protect thinking, but using scheduled surgery as a controlled stressor to study the underlying brain and inflammatory mechanisms is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
DURHAM, UNITED STATES
- DUKE UNIVERSITY — DURHAM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ACKER, LEAH — DUKE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: ACKER, LEAH
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 below.