Asthma and walking in older adults: brain signals, medicine use, and control
Official title: The influence of asthma on walking in older adults: brain predictors, medication adherence and asthma control
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-11382135 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how asthma affects how older adults walk, looking at brain factors and how well they take their inhalers to understand mobility and health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $699,585 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL169316-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382135 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with asthma who are able to participate in walking tests and neuroimaging assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without asthma or those unable to participate in walking or imaging procedures are less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project will explore how asthma may influence walking in older adults by examining brain structure and function, along with how well medications are taken and how well asthma is controlled. Using a dual-task walking test, researchers will measure gait performance while the brain’s activity and structure are assessed with functional near-infrared spectroscopy and MRI-based metrics. The study will focus on modifiable factors that could be targeted with behavioral and medical interventions to improve mobility and overall health. The approach combines neurological measurements with behavioral data to uncover mechanisms linking asthma to mobility impairments in older individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to interventions that improve walking ability and brain health in older adults with asthma, potentially reducing mobility-related health risks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research suggests links between airway disease and mobility, but this project aims to identify specific brain and behavioral mechanisms, which is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holtzer, Roee — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Holtzer, Roee
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Adaptive mHealth Support to Help Teens with Asthma Stick to Their Inhalers
A multi-site study tests a flexible smartphone-based program to help adolescents with asthma take their inhaled meds more consistently.
-
Asthma Link: Partnering pediatric clinics, schools, and families to improve kids' asthma care
A program that teams pediatric offices, schools, and families to help children with asthma take their daily controller medication at school and improve health outcomes.
-
School-supported asthma medication program for children
This program connects pediatric clinics, schools, and families so children with poorly controlled asthma can get their daily preventive medicine at school.
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How asthma affects walking and the brain in older adults
This project looks at whether asthma, asthma control, and how well people take their inhaled medicines relate to brain changes and walking ability in older adults.
-
Improving asthma medication adherence in children through school supervision
This study is testing a new program called Asthma Link to help kids with asthma by making sure they get their medication at school, with support from nurses, families, and doctors, so they can breathe easier and feel better.
-
Improving asthma treatment adherence in young people using telehealth.
This study is looking to help young people aged 14 to 30 with asthma stick to their medication by using video calls and handy tools to track their inhaler use, making it easier and more personal for them to manage their health over a year.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.