How daily activity levels affect cognitive function in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Variability and Volume of Day-to-Day Lifestyle Activity in Sustaining Cognitive Function among Insufficiently Active Older Adults at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-10841038 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how everyday activities, like walking, can affect brain health in older adults who might be at risk for Alzheimer's and similar conditions, to help find easy ways for them to keep their minds sharp.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $179,586 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AG077515-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10841038 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who are insufficiently active and at risk for Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already highly active or those with advanced dementia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between daily lifestyle activities and cognitive function in older adults who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It focuses on understanding how both the amount and variability of light-intensity physical activities, like walking, can influence cognitive health. By examining these factors, the study aims to identify practical, non-pharmacological strategies that older adults can adopt to potentially sustain their cognitive abilities. The approach includes monitoring participants' daily activity levels and assessing their cognitive function over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide older adults with effective, low-intensity activity recommendations to help maintain their cognitive health and reduce the risk of dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that light-intensity physical activity can have positive effects on cognitive health, but this study explores a novel aspect of daily variability in activity levels.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Chih-Hsiang — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Yang, Chih-Hsiang
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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.