How not having steady access to food may affect memory and dementia risk
Official title: The Longitudinal and Dynamic Effects of Food Insecurity on Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Risk
Funded at Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-11091551 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether not having steady access to enough food leads to worse thinking skills and higher dementia risk in adults, especially older people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $381,183 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079286-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11091551 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults—especially older adults—who have experienced food insecurity or limited access to healthy food.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not face food access problems or whose dementia is driven mainly by non-modifiable genetic causes may not see direct benefit from findings focused on food insecurity.
What this research studies
You would have your food access, diet, medical conditions, mood, and thinking skills tracked over time so researchers can see how changes in food security relate to memory and dementia risk. The team will analyze long-term data to link episodes of food insecurity with later changes in cognitive test scores and dementia diagnoses. They will examine whether poor diet, cardiometabolic problems (like diabetes or high blood pressure), and psychological distress explain any increased risk. Findings are intended to point to possible nutrition or food-support programs to help protect thinking as people age.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify food insecurity as a reversible risk factor for cognitive decline and suggest food- and nutrition-focused approaches to lower dementia risk.
How similar studies have gone: Some small cross-sectional studies have linked food insecurity to lower cognitive scores, but rigorous long-term evidence is limited and this longitudinal approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leung, Cindy — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Leung, Cindy
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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.