Effects of a natural disaster on the cognitive health of older adults
Official title: Long-term Effects of a Natural Disaster on Cognitive Aging, Dementia, Health and Well-being of Older Adults
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10845523 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the stress from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami has affected the thinking, health, and happiness of older adults in Indonesia over the past 20 years, focusing on their personal experiences and how support from family and community helps them cope and recover.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $505,418 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG065395-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10845523 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults (over 40 years) who experienced the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who did not experience the tsunami or are younger than 40 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the long-term exposure to stressors from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami affects the cognitive performance, physical health, and overall well-being of older adults in Indonesia. By analyzing data from approximately 12,000 older individuals collected over 20 years, the study aims to understand the varying impacts based on personal experiences during the disaster, such as loss of family or economic stability. The research will also explore resilience and recovery factors among these individuals, providing insights into how community and family resources contribute to their health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and interventions for cognitive aging and health in older adults affected by natural disasters.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that natural disasters can have significant long-term effects on mental and physical health, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frankenberg, Elizabeth a — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Frankenberg, Elizabeth a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Long-term Effects of a Natural Disaster on Cognitive Aging and Dementia in Older Adults
This project follows older adults affected by a major natural disaster to understand how long-term stress may influence aging, memory, and risk for dementia.
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Long-term effects of a natural disaster on aging, cognition, and well-being in older adults
This project follows older adults affected by a large tsunami to understand how disaster stress might influence memory, thinking skills, health, and well-being many years later.
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Health, Aging and Dementia in South Africa: A Longitudinal Study
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Activities4Care: a digital assistive platform to boost well-being for people with dementia and their caregivers
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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.