Why some people stay mentally sharp into their 100s
Protective factors and mechanisms
Researchers are looking for genes, cell activity patterns, and lab-grown brain models that explain why some centenarians and their children keep their memory and thinking skills intact.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11190872 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on centenarians who remain cognitively healthy and some of their adult children to find natural protections against dementia. Scientists will search for genetic differences that link to resilience and study gene activity in brain-related cells. They will create 3D human neural-glial models from participants’ cells (iPSCs) to mimic age-related brain changes. Those lab-grown models will be used to test candidate drugs and biological mechanisms that might boost resistance to Alzheimer’s-related damage.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are cognitively healthy centenarians and some of their adult offspring, or people willing to provide blood or skin samples and participate in cognitive testing and imaging.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate treatment for active dementia or those unable to provide samples or attend study visits are unlikely to receive direct personal benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or slow Alzheimer’s by mimicking natural protective factors found in long-lived people with intact cognition.
How similar studies have performed: Previous centenarian genetics studies and iPSC-based brain models have revealed promising protective signals, but turning those findings into proven therapies is still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Doo Yeon — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Kim, Doo Yeon
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 below.