How spousal depression affects Alzheimer's disease and health across cultures
Official title: Cultural variation in the impact of spousal depressive symptoms on Alzheimer's Disease and physical health
Funded at Michigan State University · NIH-11129427 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how a spouse's feelings of depression can affect the health and thinking abilities of people with Alzheimer's disease, and it aims to help us understand these effects better across different cultures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michigan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $369,654 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG089376-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11129427 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing cognitive decline or diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, particularly those with spouses exhibiting depressive symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a spouse or those whose spouses do not exhibit depressive symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of depressive symptoms in spouses on the health and cognitive decline of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). By examining data from diverse cultural backgrounds, the study aims to identify how these depressive symptoms influence the risk of developing AD and related health issues. The approach includes analyzing individual and dyadic data from multiple panel studies to understand the broader implications of spousal mental health on aging populations. This research seeks to fill gaps in existing knowledge that primarily focuses on Western populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions for individuals at risk of Alzheimer's disease by addressing the mental health of their spouses.
How similar studies have gone: While there is existing research on the impact of depressive symptoms on health, this study's focus on cultural variation in the context of Alzheimer's disease is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Michigan State University
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chopik, William Joseph — Michigan State University
- Study coordinator: Chopik, William Joseph
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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.