Mayo clinic study of aging U19

The National Institute on Aging awarded Mayo Clinic a Cooperative Agreement totaling $4,496,369 on August 18, 2026, under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866) to establish and operate the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging (MCSA) as a multi-site platform for validating and deploying blood-based biomarkers to guide clinical care in cognitive aging.

The MCSA will develop and test biomarkers to quantify multifactorial contributions to cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer's disease, cerebrovascular disease, TDP-43, and alpha-synuclein pathology. Mayo Clinic will establish U19 infrastructure to recruit and retain 5,000 participants across two population-based samples: an existing cohort in Olmsted County, Minnesota (currently 2,725 active participants with longitudinal clinical, plasma, amyloid PET, tau PET, and MRI data collected since 2004) and a newly established sample in Mississippi (approximately 500 currently active participants). The work involves developing single-etiology staging schemes using various biomarkers for clinical utilization and computing multi-etiology models of absolute lifetime risk of biological and clinical progression to inform treatment decisions.

Performance occurs in Rochester, Minnesota. The period of performance extends from August 18, 2026, through July 31, 2031. The National Institute on Aging's Aging Research program supports biomedical and behavioral research and training directed toward understanding aging processes and diseases affecting older populations, with particular emphasis on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Abstract

Overall clinical care in cognitive aging will take two major directions in coming years: moving disease modifying treatments earlier in the disease course (to preclinical stages) and integration of diagnostic/prognostic blood- based biomarkers. Given that cognitive impairment is multifactorial, future treatments will require developing accessible biomarkers for each single etiological component of aging (e.g. alzheimer's disease [ad], cerebrovascular disease [cevd], TDP-43, alpha-synuclein) and providing tools to clinical workflows that can aid in guiding future therapies. The overall goal of mayo clinic study of aging (mcsa) is to use real-world settings to validate and deploy biomarkers in the community for cognitive aging. The mcsa established in 2004 through the funding of a U01 created a population-based, random sample in olmsted county, MN presently with 2725 active participants, and has collected extensive longitudinal clinical, plasma, amyloid pet, TAU pet, and MRI data. This new U19 grant will expand the efforts of our current U01 to a multi-site study that includes a newly established population-based sample in mississippi (mcsa-MS) with about 500 currently active participants. In aim 1, we will establish the U19 infrastructure for recruitment/retention of 5000 participants using the administrative, clinical, biomarker, neuroimaging, and biostatistics and data coordinating cores. In aim 2, we will establish the mcsa platform, a flexible and expandable approach, to test existing and emerging biomarkers to quantify multifactorial contributions to cognitive impairment. The mcsa platform has two components: 1) development of single-etiology staging schemes by considering various biomarkers for clinical utilization; and (2) computing multi-etiology models of absolute lifetime risk of biological and clinical progression. These models will be a key factor in weighing risks and benefits of treatment when considering emerging treatments for cognitively unimpaired individuals. In aim 2A, we will employ the mcsa platform in the U19 project to evaluate accessible plasma ad staging and cevd MRI biomarkers as multi compartmental predictors of cognitive progression/decline. In aim 2B, we will establish readiness for evaluation of emerging TDP-43 and alpha- synuclein biomarkers as they become available using the mcsa platform and infrastructure. Through aim 3, we will provide broad access to mcsa data and samples to catalyze innovation and expedite progress in cognitive aging and dementia research. Through the robust infrastructure and the innovative mcsa platform, the U19 grant will build the foundation to make important contributions to the field of cognitive aging and dementia, ultimately leading to better diagnostic tools, treatment planning, and patient care.