How genes and life hardships connect to memory and aging
Genetically Informed Studies of Social Connectedness and Health
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · NIH-11292908
Researchers will compare twins to see whether stress, trauma, and social connections relate to memory problems and faster biological aging in adults at risk for Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (TUCSON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11292908 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project uses a large group of twins to separate the effects of inherited genes and shared family environment from the experience of stress, trauma, and social connectedness. By comparing twin pairs where one twin experienced more adversity than the other (cotwin control design), the team looks for links between life adversity, cognitive performance, and biomarkers of biological aging. The work draws on existing data from the Washington State Twin Registry, using cognitive tests, questionnaires about stress and trauma, and biological aging measures already collected. Results aim to clarify whether differences in adversity within families are associated with Alzheimer's-related outcomes beyond genetic risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adult twins—especially middle-aged or older twins—with differing histories of stress, trauma, or social isolation who can provide medical, psychosocial, and (if requested) biological information.
Not a fit: People who are not twins or who lack measures of life adversity, cognitive testing, or biological samples are unlikely to be eligible or to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify whether reducing stress or improving social connections might lower Alzheimer's risk and slow biological aging.
How similar studies have performed: Prior twin and behavior-genetic studies have linked adversity to poorer health and cognitive decline, but applying cotwin-control methods specifically to Alzheimer's-related biological aging is a relatively new application.
Where this research is happening
TUCSON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA — TUCSON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SBARRA, DAVID A — UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- Study coordinator: SBARRA, DAVID A
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.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia