# Clinical, Imaging, and Pathological Studies in the Oldest Old: The 90+ Study - Revision

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · 2024 · $842,224

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY - PARENT GRANT (7/1/18 to 5/31/24)
 The 90+ Study was initiated January 1, 2003 as a population-based sample of oldest-old survivors of
the Leisure World Cohort Study (LWCS, enrollment 1981-1984). With more than 1,800 participants, The 90+
Study is one of the largest and longest studies in the world of dementia, cognitive decline, disability, and frailty
in the oldest-old. People over 90 are the fastest segment of the population and have the greatest public health
impact as the risk of dementia is extraordinarily high in these individuals, reaching a staggering 40% per year
in centenarians. However, many oldest-old maintain superior cognitive performance well into their tenth decade
and beyond (cognitive resilience), often in the presence of neuropathological changes (cognitive resilience in
the presence of pathology). Lifestyle, co-morbid conditions, genetics, and other factors have been implicated in
this cognitive resilience but have not been well studied. In this application, we extend our studies to investigate
cognitive resilience in these remarkable individuals. In Aim 1, we consider early (30 years earlier in the LWCS)
and late (at age 90+) lifestyle and other factors in relation to cognitive resilience. Factors related to the
maintenance of superior cognitive abilities in the presence of pathology are investigated in Aim 2. Taking
advantage of our large cohort of 90+ year-olds in our imaging studies, we prospectively follow individuals
without dementia to estimate incidence of dementia and rates of cognitive decline in relation to MRI and PET
biomarkers in Aim 3. We analyze the role of low levels of multiple neuropathologic changes in the expression
of dementia in Aim 4. Finally, with this application, we will recruit the last living LWCS participants eligible for
our study, and complete ascertainment of all previously established outcomes in The 90+ Study (dementia,
CIND, MCI, frailty, disability, and mortality). With our extensive database, unique large cohort of well-
characterized individuals, extensive and multidisciplinary longitudinal follow-up, and innovative
neuropathological and neuroimaging investigations, we are ideally positioned to do studies of dementia and
resilience in the oldest-old. Identifying factors related to cognitive resilience and dementia, including modifiable
lifestyle factors and imaging biomarkers, would contribute to our understanding of aging in health and disease
and provide potential targets for interventions to promote successful aging.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11085825
- **Project number:** 3R01AG021055-20S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Maria Corrada
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $842,224
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2002-09-15 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11085825

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11085825, Clinical, Imaging, and Pathological Studies in the Oldest Old: The 90+ Study - Revision (3R01AG021055-20S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11085825. Licensed CC0.

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