Advancing Research
by funding Grant Programs and Fellowships
Driving Innovation
by guiding studies such as the FAST Initiative, the SuperAgers Initiative, and the TAME Trial
Furthering the Field
by supporting the infrastructure of three NIA Initiatives and leading the Amplifying Geroscience Initiative.
Top Breakthroughs driven by AFAR Experts
Delaying Disease by Targeting Aging
Saving Costs by Extending Healthspan
What are the Hallmarks of Aging?
What is Geroscience?
What is the Longevity Dividend?
As we age, our cognitive function—our ability to think, remember, and make decisions—often declines, but the rate of decline varies widely. Some people experience rapid cognitive decline, while others maintain sharp mental abilities for longer. Cognitive aging is complex and influenced by biological changes, including inflammation, cell damage, vascular dysfunction, and more. These changes can become more noticeable with age and may suggest that someone is aging faster than their actual years. Using protein data from a large, long-term study of Black and White adults, Dr. Sedaghat aims to develop "protein-based aging clocks" to measure biological age. This study will explore how these clocks relate to different patterns of cognitive decline. Dr. Sedaghat hopes these tools will help predict who might experience faster cognitive aging.
