Understanding how older adults process language differently than younger adults
Official title: Prediction in Language Across the Lifespan
Funded at University of California, Merced · NIH-10291114 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how older adults understand and predict language compared to younger adults, to see if age affects their ability to guess what comes next in conversations, which could help improve communication for seniors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, Merced NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Merced, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2021 |
| Award (this year) | $454,784 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AG073948-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10291114 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who are interested in language comprehension and may experience challenges in understanding language.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not older adults or those without any language comprehension issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how language comprehension changes with age, particularly focusing on older adults' ability to predict upcoming language inputs compared to younger adults. It explores two main theories: one suggesting that older adults have a decline in predictive abilities due to aging, and another proposing that their predictions are simply different due to their extensive language experience. By analyzing language processing through various experimental methods, the study aims to uncover the nuances of language prediction across different age groups. This could lead to better understanding and interventions for language comprehension in older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of language processing in older adults, potentially leading to improved communication strategies and interventions for age-related language impairments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown varying results regarding language processing in older adults, indicating that this area is still being explored and holds potential for new insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, Merced
Merced, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ryskin, Rachel — University of California, Merced
- Study coordinator: Ryskin, Rachel
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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.