Summary of Federal Grant Award

Vanderbilt University Medical Center received $186,624 in project grant funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242), awarded May 1, 2026, with completion targeted for April 30, 2031. This research project addresses cognitive enhancement in recurrent late-life depression through a randomized clinical trial pilot study. The project will deliver evidence-based investigation of a multi-modal cognitive-enhancing intervention combining targeted cognitive training (TCT) specifically designed for executive function deficits with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the frontal lobes. The study will enroll sixty non-demented older adults with executive dysfunction and recurrent late-life depression to undergo a four-week daily intervention across three randomized conditions, generating cognitive and neural outcome data on executive functioning and executive control network brain connectivity.

The research products generated through this award will include empirical findings on whether the stepwise engagement of the executive control network differs significantly across randomized intervention groups, thereby advancing understanding of neuroplasticity-promoting interventions for older adults experiencing cognitive impairment associated with recurrent depression. This work addresses a critical gap in treatment approaches for late-life depression, as executive dysfunction persists despite symptom remission and correlates with increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia progression. Study outcomes will contribute to the evidence base for optimizing combined cognitive and neuromodulation interventions in this vulnerable population.