Helping older adults stick with exercise and protect thinking skills
Penn State Roybal Center for Promoting Adherence to Behavior Change and Enhancing Cognitive Function
This project uses AI-crafted messages and conditioning techniques to help middle-aged and older adults keep up physical activity and support cognitive health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P30 center grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169019 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would receive brief digital messages and small conditioning activities designed to make exercise feel automatic and part of who you are. The team tests two approaches—precision messaging (tailored prompts) and evaluative conditioning (pairing activity with positive cues)—and compares AI-generated messages to human-written messages. A Community Advisory Board helps shape prompt design so AI content is unbiased, unlikely to hallucinate, and culturally sensitive. Two trials will check whether AI messages work as well as human messages and how many daily messages best encourage physical activity.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Middle-aged and older adults interested in Alzheimer’s prevention or improving exercise habits who can receive digital messages (e.g., smartphone users) are the best fit.
Not a fit: People without access to digital messaging, those unable to engage with daily prompts, or individuals with advanced dementia that limits participation may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these methods could help older adults maintain regular exercise and potentially reduce risk factors for Alzheimer’s by supporting cognitive function.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show tailored messaging and conditioning can improve activity and habit formation, but using AI to generate intervention content is a newer approach being directly compared here.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conroy, David E. — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Conroy, David E.
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.