Sunday, February 15, 2026 2/15/2026

Impact of vestibular loss on central vestibular pathways in aging adults

Award Number: R01AG073115
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/15/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Impact of vestibular loss on central vestibular pathways in aging adults - Emerging research is providing compelling evidence that the vestibular system contributes not only to basic reflexes (e.g. vestibulo-ocular, postural) but also to complex cognitive processes including spatial memory and navigation; self-motion perception and motor planning; and executive function. Vestibular function declines with healthy aging, and studies from our group and others have shown that vestibular loss in aging adults is associated with known age-related reductions in cognitive skills including spatial memory and navigation ability, and self-motion perception and motor planning. In a pilot study supported by the NIDCD, we found that older adults with vestibular loss had reduced hippocampal volumes, as well as atrophy of subfields of the thalamus and the basal ganglia. During this pilot study, our group built a pipeline for analysis of neuroimaging data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) at the Center for Imaging Science (CIS) in the Johns Hopkins Department of Biomedical Engineering. We established the computational infrastructure for both volumetric analysis and shape analysis. In this proposal, we seek to leverage this infrastructure to more comprehensively investigate the impact of aging on three core central vestibular pathways, and examine the link between structural changes in these pathways and functional changes in clinical skills mediated by these pathways. Specifically, we aim to: Aim 1 Investigate the relationship between peripheral vestibular sensory loss associated with aging and the structure of central vestibular pathways, specifically considering 3 primary central vestibular pathways: 1) spatial cognitive; 2) sensorimotor; 3) prefrontal cortex (executive function). Aim 2 Examine the longitudinal relationships between peripheral vestibular loss and structural changes in central vestibular pathways using longitudinal models and also the novel change-point model in aging adults. Aim 3 Explore the association between structural changes in central vestibular pathways and clinical functional changes cross-sectionally and longitudinally. This proposal represents a unique opportunity to leverage strengths in vestibular physiology and computational neuroimaging to increase our fundamental understanding of the impact of healthy aging on central vestibular networks, and associated clinical consequences. Findings from this study will be used to drive further critical research questions, including 1) Does vestibular loss contribute to the accelerated decline in cognitive ability and brain structure that occurs in individuals with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease; and 2) Can vestibular interventions for vestibular loss prevent/mitigate changes in central vestibular pathways?


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $269,454 )
2025	2025	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIV. OF COLORADO	13001 E 17TH PL STE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Aging Research	006	6	5/22/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$247,458
2025	2025	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIV. OF COLORADO	13001 E 17TH PL STE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Aging Research	007	6	9/4/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$21,996
2025	2024	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	13001 E 17TH PL STE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Aging Research	000	5	10/22/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$277,431
2025	2024	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	13001 E 17TH PL STE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Aging Research	004	5	10/29/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$277,431
2025	2023	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Aging Research	002	3	10/24/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2025	2023	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	13001 E 17TH PL STE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Aging Research	005	4	10/29/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$316,146
2025	2023	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Aging Research	003	3	10/24/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2025	2023	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	13001 E 17TH PL STE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Aging Research	001	4	10/22/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	-$316,146
														Subtotal = $269,454

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $184,203 )
2024	2024	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	13001 E 17TH PL STE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Aging Research	002	5	6/3/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$277,431
2024	2023	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	13001 E 17TH PL STE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Aging Research	001	4	2/1/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$316,146
2024	2023	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Aging Research	000	3	1/30/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$409,374
2024	2023	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	13001 E 17TH PL STE F428	AURORA	CO	80045	ADAMS	USA	Aging Research	005	4	6/27/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$327,367
2024	2023	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Aging Research	004	3	6/27/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$1
2024	2022	THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Aging Research	003	2	6/27/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$327,366
														Subtotal = $184,203

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $409,375 )
2023	2023	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Aging Research	000	3	6/16/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$409,375
														Subtotal = $409,375

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $409,375 )
2022	2022	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Aging Research	000	2	6/13/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$409,375
														Subtotal = $409,375

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $409,375 )
2021	2021	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, THE	3400 N CHARLES ST	BALTIMORE	MD	21218	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Aging Research	000	1	9/10/2021	NEW	$409,375
														Subtotal = $409,375

Grand Total All Awards = $1,681,782

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Impact of vestibular loss on central vestibular pathways in aging adults

Award Number: R01AG073115

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/15/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer