Cash transfers in South Africa linked to later-life memory and dementia risk
Official title: Cumulative socioeconomic exposures, cash transfer interventions, and later-life cognitive decline and dementia risk in a low-income region of South Africa
Funded at Trustees of Indiana University · NIH-11390452 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researchers’ team is testing whether government cash transfers in rural South Africa can help protect older adults from memory decline and dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Trustees of Indiana University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $517,818 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG069128-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11390452 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in rural South Africa who are eligible for government cash transfer programs and are part of the linked HAALSI and AHDSS data framework.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not eligible for cash transfers or who are in settings without these programs may not experience direct cognitive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how receiving regular cash from the government might influence cognitive health in adults as they age in a low-income South African region. By linking existing aging and cash-transfer study data, researchers will identify the best program features (amounts, durations, and who should receive them) to support memory and reduce dementia risk. The study focuses on adults 21 years and older as their lives unfold, following them over time to see how social protection affects brain health. Results could guide design changes to cash programs to maximize cognitive benefits for aging populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help policymakers tailor cash transfer programs to better protect cognitive health in later life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous analyses showed a protective link between cash transfers and later-life cognitive outcomes, supporting further optimization in program design.
Where this research is happening
-
Trustees of Indiana University
Bloomington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosenberg, Molly Sears — Trustees of Indiana University
- Study coordinator: Rosenberg, Molly Sears
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cash transfers in South Africa to reduce dementia risk in later life
This project tests whether government cash transfers in rural South Africa help protect people’s thinking and memory as they age.
-
Dynamic cognitive health from everyday online surveys in dementia research
A big study uses everyday online surveys to read how people’s thinking changes over time, with the goal of spotting early signs of dementia.
-
Longitudinal multi-omics map of cognitive decline and dementia
A long-term study at University of Washington uses blood and brain data over many years to identify biological markers linked to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s dementia, with the goal of finding new treatment targets.
-
Peripheral immune signals and blood vessel health in aging and dementia
This project looks at how platelet and neutrophil activity relate to brain changes and biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults, especially those at higher cardiovascular risk.
-
Understanding cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s changes in people with long‑duration type 1 diabetes
A long-term study in adults with type 1 diabetes investigates why some people experience memory and thinking difficulties and brain changes typical of Alzheimer's disease.
-
How regular cash support during adulthood affects memory and dementia risk in rural South Africa
This work looks at whether receiving government cash payments during adulthood helps protect memory and lower the chance of dementia for people in a low-income region of South Africa.
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.