Learning programs for seniors in Beirut and brain health
Late Life Learning, Dementia, and Overall Health: An Investigation of The University for Seniors in Beirut.
This project looks at whether joining non-formal classes for older adults in Beirut helps thinking skills, memory, and overall health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11115628 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will follow older adults who take part in the University for Seniors in Beirut and track thinking skills, memory, and physical health over time. You would complete short questionnaires and simple cognitive tests and report on social activities and life experiences. The project compares people who attend these late-life learning activities with those who do not to understand links with dementia risk. The work focuses on older adults in Lebanon and includes regular follow-ups over several years.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults (primarily people aged 65 and older) who live in or near Beirut and can attend University for Seniors programs or similar community classes.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia who cannot participate in classes, those unable to attend in-person activities, or individuals living far from Beirut are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could show that late-life learning and social engagement help preserve thinking skills and reduce dementia risk for older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research links ongoing cognitive and social activity with better cognition, but few studies have tested community-based late-life learning programs specifically, so evidence is limited but promising.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zeki Al Hazzouri, Adina — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Zeki Al Hazzouri, Adina
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 below.