Understanding how stress and resilience affect aging and Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Elucidating the mechanisms of stress and resilience to cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11125192 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how stress and the ability to bounce back from tough times might affect the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in older adults, and it hopes to find ways to protect brain health from stress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $459,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG088163-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11125192 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease or are experiencing cognitive aging.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing cognitive aging or do not have risk factors for Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between stress, resilience, and the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in older adults. By analyzing data from large population studies, the research aims to identify factors that may help protect against the harmful effects of stress on cognitive health. The study focuses on understanding how these factors interact with the biological changes associated with AD, particularly amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. This knowledge could inform future prevention strategies for AD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease and improving cognitive health in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results in understanding the role of resilience in cognitive health, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vannini, Patrizia — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Vannini, Patrizia
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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.