How social isolation affects aging and health in people with schizophrenia
Official title: The impact of social isolation on aging health in schizophrenia
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11161436 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether being socially isolated makes people with schizophrenia develop age-related health problems earlier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $325,329 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH128971-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11161436 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with schizophrenia—especially older adults or those who have limited social contact—would be the main candidates for this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without schizophrenia or those who are younger and not socially isolated may not directly benefit from this specific study.
What this research studies
You would join an international group of about 650 people who will be followed over time to track health as they age. The study brings together participants from Europe (EU-GEI) and the US (Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center) and includes roughly 500 people with schizophrenia plus others for comparison. Researchers will gather information on social contacts, health history, medical conditions, lifestyle, and regular follow-ups to see how social isolation relates to physical health over the years. The goal is to learn whether loneliness or lack of social connection contributes to earlier onset of age-related illnesses in people with schizophrenia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to improving social support as a way to slow premature aging and boost long-term health for people with schizophrenia.
How similar studies have gone: Prior pilot studies and research in the general population link social isolation to worse health, but longitudinal studies focused on schizophrenia remain limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reichenberg, Abraham — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Reichenberg, Abraham
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How social isolation affects aging health in schizophrenia
This project explores how being socially isolated may speed up health problems as people with schizophrenia age.
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How Social Isolation Impacts Aging in People with Schizophrenia
This study looks at how social isolation affects aging and health in people with schizophrenia to see if loneliness and lack of social contact worsen medical problems as they grow older.
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How social isolation affects aging health in schizophrenia
A patient-friendly look at how being socially isolated might influence aging and health in people with schizophrenia.
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The effect of social isolation on aging health in people with schizophrenia
This study explores how being socially isolated may speed up aging-related health problems in people with schizophrenia.
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How social isolation affects aging health in schizophrenia
This research looks at how being isolated socially might influence health and aging in people with schizophrenia.
-
How social isolation affects aging and health in people with schizophrenia
This project is tracking whether loneliness and lack of social contact are linked to earlier health problems in older adults living with schizophrenia.
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.