Helping older adults with HIV be more active
Official title: Optimization of a behavioral intervention to increase physical activity in older adults living with HIV
Funded at Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri) · NIH-11178451 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tries different ways to help older adults living with HIV add more walking and daily movement using counseling, goal-setting, and activity trackers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,305,231 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG077989-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178451 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults living with HIV (for example, age 50 and up) who are currently underactive and receive care at participating primary care sites.
✕Less likely to help
People who already meet physical activity guidelines, have medical limits that prevent increased walking, or cannot use wearable devices are less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
You would work with primary care teams to try a program that focuses on lifestyle physical activity, especially walking, rather than supervised exercise sessions. The project tests different intervention pieces—brief clinic counseling, step goals, wearable activity monitors (accelerometers), and remote reminders—to find the most effective combination. Participants wear activity trackers and get regular support aimed at increasing daily steps, while researchers track activity, fitness, and health measures related to aging. The work is run from Butler Hospital in Providence and is designed for older people living with HIV who get care at participating clinics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help older adults with HIV increase everyday activity, which may lower cardiovascular risk, reduce frailty, and improve mood and independence.
How similar studies have gone: Supervised exercise programs for people with HIV have shown health benefits, but lifestyle-based walking programs like this are less tested and represent a relatively new approach for older PLWH.
Where this research is happening
-
Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri)
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Uebelacker, Lisa a — Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri)
- Study coordinator: Uebelacker, Lisa a
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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.