SPONSORED RESEARCH: Interdisciplinary Infrastructure for Aging Research: Establishing the Lucidity in Alzheimer’s and Dementia (LEAD) Network
February 11, 2026
Read a Q&A Below:
David Cella, PhD, Professor Emeritus at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Medical Social Sciences (MSS) received a grant from the National Institute on Aging titled: “Interdisciplinary Infrastructure for Aging Research: Establishing the Lucidity in Alzheimer’s and Dementia (LEAD) Network.”
What are the aims of the project?
Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease related dementias (AD/ADRD) impact nearly 7 million individuals in the United States and are characterized by irreversible and progressive declines in cognition and function. A rapidly developing body of evidence demonstrates that some individuals with advanced AD/ADRD exhibit a seemingly implausible transient recovery of function evidenced by a return of coherent communication and functional behaviors after these abilities were believed to be irretrievably lost. These events, referred to as Lucid Episodes (LE), represent a unique presentation of resilience that emerges spontaneously, with important implications for care delivery and caregiving. Despite their significance, empirical evidence on lucid episodes is extremely limited. There is a critical gap in research infrastructure capable of advancing measurement and detection of LE in AD/ADRD. Efforts to establish this research capacity necessitate the development of focused research and training resources and coordinated engagement and network building that integrates across disciplinary silos. Specific aims of this project are to better understand the phenomenon of momentary lucidity in people with Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease related dementias (AD/ADRD), and to develop and improve how lucid episodes are understood and measured.
What are your next steps?
We have assembled a team of highly active and productive investigators in geriatric medicine, nursing, critical care, and psychology that have contributed to advances in resilience, AD/ADRD care, measurement science, and caregiving. Leveraging our complementary and synergistic interdisciplinary perspectives, history of successful collaboration, and active integration across national AD/ADRD and aging research networks (e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease Centers), we will significantly extend the capacity for impactful advances in measurement of LE in AD/ADRD by launching the Lucidity in AlzhEimer’s and Dementia Network (LEAD Network). We will apply our expertise and experience in stakeholder engagement to develop collaborations, resources, and research infrastructure to meet this need.
What do you hope will come out of this funded research?
We hope to develop a good measure of lucid episodes and treatments that slow the progression of dementia and augment and expand lucid episodes. Leveraging growing networks, partnerships, and the experience of leaders who have established successful interdisciplinary research initiatives, the proposed LEAD Network infrastructure will create a platform upon which the cadre of investigators and scientific advances on lucidity in AD/ADRD can be rapidly accelerated, laying the groundwork for a sustainable research network to promote further collaborative, transdisciplinary studies.