Understanding how aging affects thinking and hearing abilities
Official title: Testing mechanisms for relations between high-level cognition and perception in normal aging
Funded at University of Texas San Antonio · NIH-11048458 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how our thinking skills and hearing are connected as we get older, especially to see if problems with attention and hearing can affect our brain health, which is important for understanding why hearing loss might lead to issues like dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas San Antonio NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $349,016 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG086310-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11048458 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who may be experiencing age-related changes in cognition or hearing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no age-related cognitive or auditory issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between high-level cognitive functions and auditory perception as people age. It aims to uncover the mechanisms that link these two areas, particularly focusing on how attention control and sensory processing may decline with age. The study employs various methods, including brain activity measurements and psychological assessments, to explore how changes in hearing can impact cognitive abilities. By examining these connections, the research seeks to provide insights into why hearing loss may increase the risk of cognitive disorders like dementia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and interventions for age-related cognitive decline and hearing loss.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the links between sensory processing and cognitive function in aging, suggesting that this approach has potential for significant findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas San Antonio
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Golob, Edward J — University of Texas San Antonio
- Study coordinator: Golob, Edward J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How early-life spending shape aging and dementia risk later in life
A Stanford-led study looks at how state and county spending in childhood may influence midlife thinking skills and the risk of dementia in later life.
-
How aging affects memory-related brain circuits
Researchers compare changes in memory brain circuits across older male and female animals to learn about memory problems that affect older adults.
-
Technology to support thinking and social life for older adults with mild cognitive impairment
A multi-site program is developing an adaptive software to help older adults with mild cognitive impairment stay sharp, manage daily tasks, and stay socially connected.
-
Combining aging surveys to understand memory, Alzheimer's, and dementia care
This project brings together long-term survey data from many countries and adds things like air pollution and care-policy information to see how they relate to memory, mild cognitive problems, and Alzheimer's risk in older adults.
-
Understanding aging brain memory systems in rats and what it means for people with memory changes
A Johns Hopkins program studies how aging affects memory by looking at a rat model, with findings that could point to new ways to help people with age-related memory problems.
-
Multi-modal wearable system to track mobility and thinking in older adults
A wearable sensor system will continuously monitor movement and cognition in people aged 65 and older to help detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
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.