Aging and Cognition
Research Program
Aging and Cognition
Program Leadership
On this page: Centers and Programs | Featured Research | Funding Opportunities | Resources for Researchers | People
Related NIH-Funded Centers
Our NIH-funded centers are advancing knowledge of the health, economic and social impacts of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
U.S. Cost of Dementia Project
The U.S. Cost of Dementia Project provides annual, national, comprehensive estimates of the total cost of dementia and builds capacity for researchers and decision-makers to identify strategies to reduce the population-level impacts of dementia.
CeASES ADRD
CeASES ADRD advances innovative social science research on dementia through pilot project funding and mentorship, research networks, and data resources to reduce risk and costs of dementia, improve access and care, and advance solutions for improving population health.
USC RCAD
USC Resource Center for Aging and Dementia Research (USC RCAD) supports and mentors early-career investigators to conduct impactful research on the health and economic wellbeing of older populations.
Featured Research View All
Schaeffer Research Featured in Special Journal Issue on Alzheimer’s Care and Caregiving
Experts: Julie Zissimopoulos
2026 Science of ADRD for Social Scientists Program
Join us Oct. 8-9 to learn about the biomedical and clinical foundations of AD/ADRD and recent scientific advances to inform social science dementia research.
Learn MoreFeatured Article
Does Medicare Advantage Deliver Better Care for Persons Living With Dementia Than Traditional Medicare?
With data available from CMS on all Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in private plans and traditional Medicare, researchers at the USC Schaeffer Center are driving new research on how payment structures impact the care of persons living with dementia.
Experts: Johanna Thunell, Julie Zissimopoulos
Top Stories View All
Issue Brief
Fixing the Funnel: Stakeholder Insights on Alzheimer’s Disease Trial Recruitment
Featured Experts: Phyllis Barkman Ferrell, Maria-Alice Manetas, Mireille Jacobson, Desi Peneva
In The News View All
MarketWatch
Dementia’s growing costs are an economic crisis for families and government, Zissimopoulos warns
Featured Experts: Julie Zissimopoulos
The New York Times
Joyce discusses researchers’ efforts to study if statins can prevent dementia
Featured Experts: Geoffrey Joyce
Bloomberg
Bloomberg cites Schaeffer Center data on 2025 dementia costs
Featured Experts: Julie Zissimopoulos
Healio
Zissimopoulos discusses how the U.S. Cost of Dementia project will help policymakers identify opportunities to reduce costs
Featured Experts: Julie Zissimopoulos
Marketplace
Heun-Johnson quoted on how excess COVID-19 deaths affected Social Security finances
Featured Experts: Hanke Heun-Johnson
Funding Opportunities
The Aging and Cognition Research Program supports the development of the next generation of social scientists through a range of research, training, and funding opportunities.
CeASES ADRD Pilot
Invites applications from scholars interested in social science research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
USC RCAD Pilot
Invites applications from early-career scientists interested in research on the health and economic wellbeing of older populations.
U.S. Cost of Dementia Pilot
(In development) Invites applications from scholars at all career stages interested in using dynamic microsimulation modeling to study the cost of dementia.
