Understanding Motoric Cognitive Risk in older adults

The biological underpinnings of Motoric Cognitive Risk syndrome: a multi-center study

['FUNDING_R01'] · STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK · NIH-11259990

This project looks for biological and genetic signs linked to Motoric Cognitive Risk (slow walking plus memory worries) in older adults to help spot who may face higher dementia risk.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorSTATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK (nih funded)
Locations1 site (STONY BROOK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11259990 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

From a patient's perspective, researchers have joined eight groups with data on about 11,000 community-dwelling older adults to study Motoric Cognitive Risk (MCR). They will combine clinical information, blood biomarkers, genetic polygenic risk scores, and brain scans to identify biological pathways such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular changes tied to MCR. The team will examine how common, changeable issues like depression, obesity, and low physical activity relate to those biological signals. The aim is to find markers or genetic patterns that predict who develops MCR so doctors can identify higher-risk people earlier and explore prevention options.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are community-dwelling older adults with subjective memory or thinking complaints and measurable slow walking speed, or people already enrolled in one of the participating cohorts.

Not a fit: Younger people, those without cognitive complaints or gait slowing, or people who already have diagnosed dementia are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could help detect people at higher risk of dementia earlier and point to medical or lifestyle strategies to lower that risk.

How similar studies have performed: Smaller studies have shown MCR predicts dementia and have linked it to inflammation and genetic risk, but this large multi-cohort combination of biomarkers, genetics, and neuroimaging is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

STONY BROOK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

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 below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.