Tracking protein markers to spot memory decline before dementia
Official title: Longitudinal multi-omic biomarkers for neurocognitive decline prior to dementia onset
Funded at University of Edinburgh · NIH-11382309 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, international study will look for blood and brain protein signals that rise before dementia shows up in people as young as their 70s and 80s, to help identify risk early.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Edinburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Edinburgh, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $617,064 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AG083829-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382309 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults who are part of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 or similar aging cohorts with cognitive and biomarker data available.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy younger individuals or those without access to the studied cohorts are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project will analyze blood protein measurements (including a panel of 7,000 proteins) and existing biomarkers in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 and other large aging studies to find patterns that accompany early cognitive decline. Researchers will use growth curves and survival models to link biomarker changes with later dementia diagnosis and brain imaging findings. The goal is to map how molecular changes unfold over time before dementia becomes apparent, so future tests or interventions can catch the disease earlier. The study is observational and uses data from people who are aging and have detailed cognitive and brain health records.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could enable earlier detection of dementia risk and guide timing for interventions or monitoring.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked biomarkers to dementia risk, but this project aims to create the largest longitudinal biomarker-to-dementia dataset to date.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harris, Sarah Elizabeth — University of Edinburgh
- Study coordinator: Harris, Sarah Elizabeth
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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.