Understanding subtle cognitive changes in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Heterogeneity of subtle cognitive decline phenotypes in community-dwelling older adults
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11463424 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant investigates how small, early cognitive changes appear in older adults and how they relate to Alzheimer’s biology, with the goal of spotting risk earlier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,185,917 |
| NIH project number | 4RF1AG082726-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11463424 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults who are in the pre-dementia stage or have subtle cognitive changes and have contributed data to aging cohorts.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without subtle cognitive changes or data from aging cohorts are unlikely to directly benefit.
What this research studies
As a patient-friendly overview, this project looks at why some older adults show faint cognitive changes before memory problems become clear. Researchers will analyze existing data from large aging studies to identify different patterns of cognitive change and how these patterns relate to brain biomarkers. The work aims to map early signs that could lead to earlier planning and potential interventions, rather than waiting for full dementia to develop. Findings could help clinicians recognize at-risk individuals sooner and tailor monitoring and care. All analyses use data from people who have given consent and contributed their information to aging research projects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could improve early detection and personalized planning for people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has identified subtypes of cognitive decline and links to biomarker profiles, supporting the approach but still needing refinement.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomas, Kelsey R — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Thomas, Kelsey R
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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.