Helping older adult smokers quit smoking to reduce dementia risk

ADRD Prevention Messaging to Increase Smoking Cessation Attempts in Older Adult Smokers

NIH-funded research University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11041052

This study is all about finding better ways to help older adults who smoke to quit, which can really help protect their brain health and lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Madison, United States)
Project IDNIH-11041052 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing effective messaging strategies to encourage older adult smokers to quit smoking, which is crucial for reducing their risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. The project involves training a clinical psychologist, Dr. Adrienne Johnson, to become an independent investigator in tobacco dependence and dementia prevention. Through a combination of coursework, mentoring, and practical experience, the research aims to create and test interventions that motivate older smokers to make cessation attempts. The ultimate goal is to improve health outcomes for this vulnerable population by addressing their unique challenges in quitting smoking.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are older adult smokers, particularly those at risk for cognitive decline.

Not a fit: Patients who do not smoke or are not at risk for Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias among older smokers by increasing their smoking cessation attempts.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that targeted messaging can effectively increase smoking cessation attempts among various populations, suggesting potential success for this approach.

Where this research is happening

Madison, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions age associated disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.