How social life affects cognitive health in older adults in rural and urban areas
Official title: Social Mechanisms of Cognitive Aging Disparities in Rural and Urban Older Populations
Funded at Oklahoma State University Stillwater · NIH-11370559 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study following older adults in rural and urban areas to see how social networks and daily activities relate to thinking skills over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oklahoma State University Stillwater NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stillwater, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $302,973 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG078247-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370559 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults living in rural and urban areas who can participate in surveys and ecological momentary assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not participate in the social or cognitive assessments may not benefit from the study results.
What this research studies
This project will recruit older adults in rural and urban communities and collect two waves of surveys plus real-time prompts to track social interactions, everyday activities, and daily environments. By linking these social and activity patterns to cognitive measurements, the study aims to uncover how the social world helps or hinders cognitive function in later life. The team will compare rural and urban settings to identify which social factors most strongly relate to differences in cognitive health. The research uses multiple methods to capture everyday experiences, not just one-time questions. Results could point to practical ways to support cognitive health through social engagement and activity choices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide community and policy efforts to promote social connectedness and engaging activities that support cognitive health in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows social engagement is linked to cognitive health, but this project adds real-time, multi-method measurement to understand mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Oklahoma State University Stillwater
Stillwater, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roth, Adam Ronald — Oklahoma State University Stillwater
- Study coordinator: Roth, Adam Ronald
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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.