How lifestyle changes affect brain health and memory in older adults
Official title: Impact of change in lifestyle health behaviors on cognition: Harmonizing and leveraging participant-level data from randomized controlled trials
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-10984344 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how making healthier choices in diet, exercise, and social activities can help improve brain health in older adults, especially those at risk for Alzheimer's and similar conditions, to find out which changes work best for keeping their minds sharp.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,366,213 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1AG089550-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10984344 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, particularly those aged 21 and above, who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for cognitive decline or who are under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how changes in lifestyle health behaviors, such as diet, exercise, and social engagement, can influence cognitive health in older adults, particularly those at risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. By analyzing data from 12 previous randomized controlled trials involving nearly 10,000 participants, the study aims to identify which specific lifestyle changes have the most significant impact on cognitive outcomes. The goal is to provide insights that can help tailor lifestyle interventions for diverse groups of older adults to enhance their cognitive function and overall brain health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective lifestyle interventions that help protect against cognitive decline and improve memory in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using lifestyle interventions to improve cognitive health, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Halloway, Shannon — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Halloway, Shannon
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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.