Understanding how personal control helps protect memory and thinking skills as we age
Official title: Perceived Control and Cognitive Aging: Pathways to Preserve Cognitive Functioning and Reduce Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in Socioeconomically Diverse Populations
Funded at North Dakota State University · NIH-11109461 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how a person's belief in their ability to influence life outcomes might help preserve brain health and reduce the chance of Alzheimer's disease, especially for people from different backgrounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Dakota State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fargo, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $363,294 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG075117-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11109461 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is relevant to individuals concerned about cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease, and the role of psychological factors in brain health, particularly those from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate clinical treatment or direct participation in a drug trial would not find direct benefit from this foundational research.
What this research studies
We are looking into how your sense of control over your life might act as a protective shield for your memory and thinking abilities as you get older. This project aims to uncover the specific ways—like through motivation, emotions, and daily health habits—that this feeling of control helps keep your brain sharp. We also want to see if this protective effect is different for people from various socioeconomic backgrounds, who may face different challenges. By understanding these connections, we hope to find new ways to help everyone maintain their cognitive health and potentially lower their risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies and interventions that empower individuals to maintain their cognitive functioning and reduce their risk of Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: While perceived control has been linked to cognitive functioning, this research is novel in systematically exploring the specific mechanisms and how these effects differ across diverse populations over multiple time scales.
Where this research is happening
-
North Dakota State University
Fargo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hamm, Jeremy — North Dakota State University
- Study coordinator: Hamm, Jeremy
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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.