The effects of exercise on cognitive function and aging in older adults
Official title: Epigenetic Aging Cognitive Function and Exercise in Older Adults
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10980240 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how exercise can help older adults, especially those 65 and up, stay sharp mentally and age better, while also exploring how things like social factors and personal fitness responses play a role in brain health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,358,537 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1AG084554-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10980240 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above who are non-cognitively impaired and interested in improving their cognitive health through exercise.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced cognitive impairment or those unable to participate in exercise may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exercise influences cognitive function and biological aging in older adults, particularly those aged 65 and older. It aims to understand the relationship between epigenetic aging and cognitive decline, including conditions like Alzheimer's disease. By examining factors such as social determinants of health and individual responses to exercise, the study seeks to identify biological markers that could predict cognitive health outcomes. Participants will engage in exercise interventions while their cognitive function and biological markers are monitored over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to personalized exercise recommendations that help maintain or improve cognitive function in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results regarding the benefits of exercise on cognitive function in older adults, indicating that this approach is both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conley, Yvette P — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Conley, Yvette P
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Canagliflozin to protect the aging brain and improve cognition in Alzheimer’s disease
Aging is linked to Alzheimer’s and this project tests whether the diabetes drug canagliflozin can help brain function and reduce inflammation in older adults with or at risk for Alzheimer’s/dementia.
-
Mitochondrial Calcium Sensing in Aging and Memory with TUSC2
A small mitochondrial protein called TUSC2 may help protect brain cells from aging-related cognitive decline by keeping mitochondria functioning properly.
-
Childhood Trauma and Aging: How Early Stress Shapes Midlife Health
This project looks at how childhood abuse and stress may speed up aging in the body and affect thinking skills by midlife, using data from a large national study.
-
SARS-CoV-2, APOE, and dementia: how COVID-19 affects thinking in aging and Alzheimer’s
This NIH grant explores how COVID-19 may impact brain function and pathology in people with aging or Alzheimer's disease, including how APOE genes might influence the effects.
-
Understanding COVID-19's Effects on Brain Health in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
This project looks at how COVID-19 affects thinking and brain health over time, especially in older adults and those with a gene linked to Alzheimer's.
-
Understanding how aging and lifestyle affect cognitive function
This study looks at how aging and lifestyle choices, like what we eat and how we live, affect brain health in older adults, with the goal of finding ways to help seniors stay sharp and enjoy a better quality of life.
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.