How spouses together may slow early Alzheimer’s progression
Official title: Influence of Interpersonal Connectedness in Spousal Care Dyads on Early Progression of AD
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11544221 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study following married couples where one person has early Alzheimer’s to see if closer, positive spousal connection and social support can slow disease progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | September 14, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,953,451 |
| NIH project number | 7RF1AG096386-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11544221 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with early-stage late-onset Alzheimer’s disease who live with a spousal caregiver and are willing to participate in long-term monitoring.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a spouse caregiver or those unwilling to participate in long-term follow-up may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will recruit 71 urban and 71 rural married couples living together, with one partner in early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers will measure how the two partners connect—emotionally and socially—through in-person observations, wearables, and surveys, then track changes in Alzheimer’s symptoms and brain structure over two years. The study combines lab observations with real-world data from everyday interactions to understand how dyadic connectedness affects disease progression. By comparing rural versus urban pairs, investigators will also explore how community ties influence outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform programs that strengthen spousal support and everyday social connections to help slow Alzheimer’s progression.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows social connectedness benefits health, but its direct impact on early AD progression is not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Kuan-Hua — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Chen, Kuan-Hua
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.