How everyday relationships affect memory and dementia risk in diverse twins
Official title: The impact of adverse interpersonal experiences (AIE) on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in ethnically diverse twins
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11374908 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study in ethnically diverse twins explores how everyday social experiences, like loneliness or warmth from others, relate to mild cognitive impairment and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2016 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,130,636 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG053217-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374908 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 and older who are part of or similar to the ethnically diverse twin cohort in the Minnesota-Carolina Twin Study of Aging (MCTSA).
✕Less likely to help
Results may not directly benefit individuals who do not experience adverse interpersonal experiences or who do not resemble the study twin population.
What this research studies
This project follows up with twins from the Minnesota-Carolina Twin Study of Aging to see how everyday relationship experiences relate to changes in thinking skills over time. It will add new tests for Mild Cognitive Impairment and use a daily diary method to link daily social interactions with fluctuations in cognitive functioning. By studying both identical and fraternal twins, the researchers aim to separate environmental and genetic influences on dementia-related outcomes. The work builds on existing data and focuses on diverse participants to better understand risk factors and potential early signals of ADRD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could clarify how social life affects brain aging and help identify prevention strategies that improve cognitive health in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous twin studies and longitudinal work support links between social factors and cognitive health, but this project adds daily-life data and a more diverse sample to strengthen findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krueger, Robert F — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Krueger, Robert F
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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.