How lifestyle factors together affect cognitive aging in adults 55+
Official title: Longitudinal Patterns of Multiple Behavioral Risk Factors and Their Joint Effects on Cognitive Aging: Evidence from a 24-Year National Cohort
Funded at University of Memphis · NIH-11438697 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study will look at how things like activity, smoking, drinking, body weight, and social connections influence brain aging in adults 55 and older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Memphis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $146,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AG104158-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11438697 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 55 and older who participate in the Health and Retirement Study and related data linkages.
✕Less likely to help
Some individuals may not see direct benefits; results may primarily advance population-level understanding.
What this research studies
This project follows a large national group of adults over many years to see how everyday habits and social life add up to affect thinking and memory as people age. Researchers will track physical activity, smoking, alcohol use, BMI, and social isolation, using the Health and Retirement Study data and neighborhood context to understand how these factors co-change over time. The study will build statistical models to reveal patterns and interactions among behaviors that relate to cognitive aging. By understanding these joint patterns, clinicians and families might better target lifestyle strategies to preserve thinking skills in later life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform personalized advice to help people maintain cognitive health as they age.
How similar studies have gone: There is prior evidence linking individual behaviors to dementia risk, but fewer studies examine how multiple behaviors jointly influence cognitive aging over decades.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Memphis
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Yong — University of Memphis
- Study coordinator: Yang, Yong
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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.