Led by our Principal Investigators:
Fitness for Brain Optimization for Late-Life Depression (FIT BOLD)
FITBOLD is a randomized interventional study designed to understand the role of aerobic exercise in preserving brain health in recently depressed older adults. The purpose of this study is to better understand the role of adopting a healthy lifestyle in preserving brain health in recently depressed older adults. Researchers hope their findings lead to better ways to improve brain health in older adults with a history of depression in the future. Older adults with a history of depression may be more likely to have problems with their memory and thinking, even if they are no longer experiencing symptoms of depression. Lifestyle modification has been shown to improve brain health in older adults, but researchers do not fully understand this relationship. Learn more here.
Neurocognitive and neuroimaging biomarkers: predicting progression towards dementia in patients with treatment-resistant late-life depression (OPTIMUM NEURO)
Optimum Neuro is a longitudinal, multi-site study utilizing comprehensive neuropsychological testing, brain imaging, and bloodwork to examine cognitive trajectories in late-life treatment resistant. This study provides an unprecedented opportunity to study whether those with treatment-resistant late-life depression (TRLLD) are at higher risk of cognitive decline and progression to dementia compared to those with treatment-responsive LLD. The OPTIMUM-NEURO Study has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health to carry out longitudinal neuroimaging, neurocognitive assessment, and peripheral biomarker testing in the OPTIMUM sample, with the aim of characterizing the pathways of Alzheimer’s Disease risk in treatment-resistant LLD. Learn more here.
Intraindividual Cognitive Variability as an Early Marker of Alzheimer's Disease (KACE)
KACE is a longitudinal, observational study that draws from several ongoing Pitt cohorts. The purpose of the KACE research study is to understand whether thinking and memory can be measured using games on smartphones.
Led by our Collaborators:
The Effect of Preeclampsia on Cognitive Function: A Prospective Case-Control Study (PRE-E-COG)
A prospective case-control study that investigates if the cerebrovascular effects of preeclampsia (preE) manifest as changes in cognition that are detectable around the delivery period(peripartum). Learn more here.
Lithium as a Treatment to prevent Impairment of Cognition in Elders (LATTICE)
Lithium as a Treatment to prevent Impairment of Cognition in Elders (or LATTICE for short) is a dementia prevention study in which Ariel Gildengers, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, and his colleagues are trying to learn whether lithium can slow down memory loss or help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in people with mild memory problems, specifically those with mild cognitive impairment. Learn more here.
Window Brain Study: The Placenta as the Window to Maternal Brain Health (WINDOW BRAIN)
The purpose of our study is to examine how preeclampsia may influence brain small vessel disease approximately 15 years after pregnancy. Learn more here.
Recurrence markers, cognitive burden and neurobiological homeostasis in late-life depression (REMBRANDT)
The purpose of this study is to help better understand why some people experience a return of depression after successful treatment and others do not. Researchers hope their findings will lead to better ways to identify, monitor, and treat older adults with depression who may be at a high risk for recurrence. Learn more here.
The Effect of Rumination, Anxiety, and Worry on Aging and Dementia Risk (RAW)
The purpose of this study is to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia risk. We will do this by looking at how anxiety and worry may affect different areas of aging in participants in The Effect of Rumination, Anxiety, and Worry on Aging and Dementia Risk (RAW) study. Learn more here.
SCOOP/SPOON
Incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in older women undergoing pelvic organ prolapse surgery. Learn more here.
Facilitating Optimal Routines in Aging (FOR AGING)
A randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of Strategy Training over Enhanced-Usual Care (EUC) on disability and whether Aβ status or neurocognitive function influences intervention outcomes in 150 older adults with MCI. Learn more here.