Cultural variation in how spousal depressive symptoms relate to Alzheimer's and physical health
Official title: Cultural variation in the impact of spousal depressive symptoms on Alzheimer's Disease and physical health
Funded at Michigan State University · NIH-11332792 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study looking at how a spouse’s depression levels might influence Alzheimer's progression and overall health across diverse cultural groups.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michigan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $355,404 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG089376-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332792 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are older adults and their spouses from diverse cultural backgrounds who have completed the harmonized panel studies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without older age or spousal relationships or those outside the studied datasets may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses existing longitudinal data from multiple studies to explore how depressive symptoms in spouses relate to aging, cognitive health, and dementia risk. By combining data from several large, harmonized datasets, researchers aim to identify patterns across different cultural contexts. The work is rooted in human aging and dementia and seeks to understand factors that could influence prevention and healthy aging for people at risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform culturally tailored strategies to support mental health and cognitive well-being in older couples, potentially reducing dementia risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research links depressive symptoms to worse health and cognitive outcomes, but this project extends understanding across cultures using harmonized data.
Where this research is happening
-
Michigan State University
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chopik, William Joseph — Michigan State University
- Study coordinator: Chopik, William Joseph
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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.