NIH-funded research Career grant

Understanding how cognition and personality change in aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Official title: Within-person dynamics of cognition and personality in healthy aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Funded at Washington University · NIH-11023137 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how thinking skills and personality change as people get older, especially for those with Alzheimer's, to help find better ways to track these changes and improve care for patients.

More s Disease research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWashington University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Saint Louis, United States)
Project startApril 15, 2021
Project endJanuary 31, 2026
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$95,482
NIH project number5K01AG071847-05
Project IDNIH-11023137 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates include adults aged 21 and older, particularly those with mild cognitive impairment or at risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Less likely to help

Patients with severe cognitive impairment or those not at risk for Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the fluctuations in cognitive function and personality traits in individuals as they age, particularly those with Alzheimer's disease. By using advanced statistical models, the study aims to capture daily variations in cognitive performance, which may reflect underlying biological and psychological processes. Participants will undergo assessments over a three-week period to identify patterns that could predict cognitive decline. The goal is to improve the measurement of cognitive function in clinical trials, potentially leading to better outcomes for patients.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate assessments of cognitive decline, improving treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease.

How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using intensive longitudinal methods to understand cognitive variability, suggesting this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

  • Washington University
    Saint Louis, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Aschenbrenner, Andrew — Washington University
  • Study coordinator: Aschenbrenner, Andrew

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Mapping tiny blood vessels in the brain's memory area and how they relate to Alzheimer's changes

    Researchers are using ultra-high-resolution brain scans and tissue staining to map tiny blood vessels in the entorhinal cortex to learn how those patterns relate to Alzheimer's disease.

    NIH research Massachusetts General Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11457052

  • 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.

    NIH research University of Southern California · Los Angeles, UNITED STATES · NIH-11371146

  • Midlife memory and dementia risk in Kenyan adults

    This work looks at midlife thinking and memory and how childhood health and life experiences might affect future dementia risk for Kenyan adults.

    NIH research University of California Berkeley · Berkeley, United States · NIH-11322043

  • How certain DNA elements affect aging and Alzheimer's disease

    This study is looking at how certain genetic elements in our DNA might affect healthy aging and Alzheimer's disease by examining brain cells and signals in mice, which could help us understand more about these conditions.

    NIH research Feinstein Institute for Medical Research · Manhasset, United States · NIH-11321491

  • Finding molecules that help the hippocampus make and keep neurons in aging and Alzheimer's

    Researchers are using new lab methods to find proteins and genes that help hippocampus cells make and maintain new neurons in older adults and people with Alzheimer's disease.

    NIH research New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · New York, United States · NIH-11320873

  • Investigating brain connectivity in aging and Alzheimer's disease

    This study is looking at how the connections in the brain change as we age and in people with Alzheimer's disease, using special brain scans to help us understand how these changes might affect memory and attention.

    NIH research Duke University · Durham, United States · NIH-11088696

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.