Understanding Walking Changes as an Early Sign of Alzheimer's and Dementia
Official title: Gait as a Preclinical Marker for Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia: insights from super-movers, usual-movers, and slow-movers
Funded at State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11333073 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how changes in walking patterns might give us early clues about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $863,160 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AG089096-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333073 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is interested in adults aged 21 and older, especially those 80 years and above, who show different walking speeds, including exceptionally fast walkers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing any changes in gait or cognitive function, or those outside the specified age ranges, may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
We are exploring how changes in walking, or "gait," could be an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Our team uses advanced methods to carefully observe walking patterns and understand what makes some people walk slower or faster as they age. We are particularly interested in "super-movers," older adults who walk as quickly as people 30 years younger, to discover what protects their brain and body from decline. By comparing super-movers with those who walk at a typical or slower pace, we hope to uncover new ways to identify and protect against memory problems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier detection of dementia and new strategies to maintain brain health and mobility as we age.
How similar studies have gone: While gait and cognition research is an emerging field, this project introduces the novel concept of "super-movers" to uncover unique protective mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
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State University New York Stony Brook
Stony Brook, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Verghese, Joe — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Verghese, Joe
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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.