Digital neighborhood replicas to show how where you live affects mid-life brain health
Digital Twin Neighborhoods for Research on Geographic Patterns in Mid-Life Health Trajectories
This project builds cloud-based digital replicas of neighborhoods that combine local information and health records to learn how place shapes brain health for adults in mid-life and older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11252288 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, researchers will create 'Digital Twin Neighborhoods'—cloud-based replicas that bring together local social, geographic, and de-identified electronic health record (EHR) data. They will set up community- and privacy-focused procedures so data from local health systems can be used safely. The team will run algorithms on these digital neighborhoods to explore how neighborhood factors relate to mid-life health trajectories linked to Alzheimer’s and related conditions. Finally, they will test whether the digital twin approach can be scaled and used in different communities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older—particularly those in mid-life or living in communities partnered with the project whose de-identified EHR data can be included—are the most relevant group for this work.
Not a fit: People without linked medical records in participating health systems, those living outside included communities, or those already in late-stage dementia may not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help target community-level prevention and care efforts so people at risk for Alzheimer’s receive services where they live.
How similar studies have performed: Research has repeatedly shown neighborhood conditions affect health outcomes, but combining EHRs and cloud 'digital twin' neighborhood models is a newer approach with limited prior testing.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dalton, Jarrod — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Dalton, Jarrod
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 below.