Understanding how depression affects memory in older adults
Official title: Phenotype Predictors of Cognitive Outcomes in Geriatric Depression
Funded at University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt · NIH-11079573 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research helps us understand how stress impacts mood and memory changes in older adults with depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Farmington, United States) |
| Project start | September 13, 2016 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $607,072 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH108578-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11079573 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is for older adults with late-life depression, as well as older adults who have never experienced depression, who are at least 21 years old.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not older adults or do not have a history of depression may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This project builds on previous findings to explore how stress affects mood and thinking abilities over time in older adults experiencing depression. Researchers are looking at how severe or ongoing stress might lead to changes in behavior, mood, sleep, appetite, and social engagement. They are also examining how these stress effects might show up in the brain's structure and function. The goal is to better understand why some older adults with depression experience cognitive decline and how stress plays a role.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to predict and prevent memory problems in older adults with depression by understanding the role of stress.
How similar studies have gone: This is a renewal grant extending previous findings, indicating that prior work has laid a foundation for this continued investigation into stress and late-life depression outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
Farmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Steffens, David C. — University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
- Study coordinator: Steffens, David C.
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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.