How where you live affects health and cognitive function in midlife
Official title: Implications of residential location in midlife disability and cognitive functioning among the poor vs. rich: within the US and cross-country comparisons
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-10986122 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how where you live affects the health and thinking abilities of adults in their middle years, especially comparing those from low-income and high-income backgrounds, to help understand why some people face more health challenges than others.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $536,728 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG080491-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10986122 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are midlife adults living in diverse socioeconomic environments across the United States.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not in the midlife age range or those living in homogeneous socioeconomic areas may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how residential location impacts disability and cognitive functioning among adults in midlife, particularly comparing those from poorer and richer backgrounds. By analyzing various contextual factors such as social vulnerability and healthcare policies at different geographic levels, the study aims to identify which elements contribute to health disparities. The researchers will use a quasi-experimental approach to compare individuals with similar characteristics living in different environments, leveraging life-history data to understand long-term effects. This comprehensive analysis seeks to clarify the multi-level factors influencing health outcomes in the U.S.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted interventions that improve health outcomes and reduce disparities for midlife adults based on their residential context.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that contextual factors significantly influence health outcomes, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choi, Hwajung — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Choi, Hwajung
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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.