Caring for someone with dementia and its effects on your thinking and daily function
Official title: Cognitive and physical consequences of caregiving individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: SBCares
Funded at State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11425468 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows older caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias to see how caregiving affects their thinking, memory, and physical health over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $557,764 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG102629-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11425468 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults aged 60 and older who are primary caregivers for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, and age- and sex-matched non-caregivers for comparison.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers who do not participate or do not experience cognitive or physical changes may derive little direct benefit.
What this research studies
Older adults who care for someone with cognitive impairment will be followed for several years to track changes in their thinking, mood, and physical abilities. The study uses smartphone-based short cognitive checks and regular questionnaires to capture daily fluctuations and factors that might influence them. By comparing 120 caregivers with 120 similar non-caregivers, researchers aim to identify what helps or harms cognitive health in real-life caregiving. The findings could point to times when caregivers need extra support to stay mentally sharp and physically well.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results could guide interventions and policies to protect and support caregivers’ cognitive and physical health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown caregiver burden affects stress and health, but this study explores short-term cognitive fluctuations with new smartphone-based measures.
Where this research is happening
-
State University New York Stony Brook
Stony Brook, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Verghese, Joe — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Verghese, Joe
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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.