# Understanding Individual Differences in Working Memory Training and Transfer in Older Adults at Risk of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE · 2021 · $233,753

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The overall objective of the proposed work is to understand factors mediating and moderating transfer of learning
in the context of training Working Memory (WM) systems in a diverse older adult population that is inclusive of
individuals that may be at risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). There is accumulating
evidence that WM training can be effective in older adults, however, to date, knowledge is extremely limited
regarding the underlying mechanisms that mediate and moderate plasticity in WM systems, and what
components of training give rise to transfer. Specifically, we will investigate whether there is an inhibitory control
(IC) phenotype in older adults at risk of dementia that may explain some of the disparate results observed in the
literature in terms of WM training outcome. Specific aims are to test an Inhibitory Control (IC) model that predicts
individual differences in how gamification of training using an n-back task differentially affects learning and
transfer and contrast this with a General Cognitive Ability (GCA) model (Aim 1). We will further test the
generalizability of the models using a complex span training (Aim 2), and furthermore, investigate applicability to
Multisensory Facilitation (MF) where sounds supporting visual processing of task targets can promote learning
and transfer (Aim 3). This proposal is transformative in that it seeks to understand how individual cognitive
strengths and needs in older adults may have different requirements for training interventions. These studies are
particularly important and timely given the current state of the field, which is fraught with controversy, and the
lack of understanding of the relevant attributes of training and individual differences factors that give rise to
successful training outcomes. Understanding the factors is critical to resolve the current controversies and to
move towards a theoretical model of training and transfer. Performance in everyday life intimately relies on WM
processes, thus, improvements in WM can benefit almost all aspects of our lives. This has driven a now multi-
billion-dollar commercial market that has provided early generation training approaches, many of which are
targeted at older adult populations who are at risk of AD/ADRD. The proposed research can shed light on the
factors that mediate and moderate these types of cognitive interventions and address the extent to which some
procedures may, and others may not, lead to improvements in real world cognition. WM deficits exist in a wide
range of mental health conditions, cases of disease and brain damage, and in cognitive aging, and training
approaches that promote better functioning WM systems can promote health and well-being in these groups.
Further this research can elucidate approaches that may not work and help people avoid use of ineffective
procedures. The proposed training software will be created on cross-platform game engines to enable us to br...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10153005
- **Project number:** 1R21AG069428-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
- **Principal Investigator:** Susanne M Jaeggi
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $233,753
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-01-15 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10153005

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10153005, Understanding Individual Differences in Working Memory Training and Transfer in Older Adults at Risk of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (1R21AG069428-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10153005. Licensed CC0.

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