How daily physical activity affects thinking in older adults
Official title: Temporal Dynamics and Associations of Device-based Activity Distribution Metrics and Everyday Cognition in Older Adults
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-10890261 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the way older adults move around and stay active each day affects their thinking skills, with the hope of finding ways to keep their minds sharp and lower the risk of Alzheimer's and similar conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 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 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $287,416 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AG087445-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10890261 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who are concerned about their cognitive health and engage in varying levels of physical activity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not older adults or those with severe cognitive impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between daily physical activity patterns and cognitive function in older adults. By using mobile technology, the study will track how older individuals engage in various physical activities throughout the day and how these activities relate to their cognitive performance. The goal is to understand whether the way physical activity is distributed over time can help maintain or improve cognitive health, potentially reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Participants will provide data on their daily activities and cognitive abilities, allowing researchers to analyze these connections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for maintaining cognitive health in older adults, potentially reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the impact of physical activity on cognitive health, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
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.