Understanding brain networks related to cognitive aging in monkeys
Official title: Prefrontal-cingulate functional networks in aging monkeys: neural circuit substrates of cognitive aging
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-10726860 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how getting older affects important parts of the brain that help with thinking and decision-making, using special brain scans on monkeys to see how their brain activity changes over time, which could help us understand more about memory issues like Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $2,330,859 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1AG083206-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10726860 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would be older adults experiencing cognitive changes or those at risk for neurodegenerative diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing cognitive decline or are younger than 21 years old may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how aging affects the brain's prefrontal and cingulate areas, which are crucial for cognitive functions. By using advanced imaging techniques like functional MRI, the study aims to explore the changes in neural circuits and network dynamics as monkeys age. The goal is to understand the relationship between these changes and cognitive decline, which could provide insights into conditions like Alzheimer's disease. This research will help identify the underlying mechanisms of cognitive aging and how they manifest in brain activity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and potential interventions for cognitive decline in aging populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results in understanding brain network dynamics in aging, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Medalla, Maria — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Medalla, Maria
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Understanding how brain resilience and multiple brain pathologies influence aging and Alzheimer's disease
A long-term study follows older adults to learn how resilience to brain changes helps reduce dementia risk and what biological factors are linked to better cognitive aging.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
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.