Move2Joy: a personalized mobile program to boost activity and lower dementia risk
Official title: An mHealth intervention to promote physical activity in middle-aged and older adults to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: The Move2Joy randomized controlled trial
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11364577 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile health program helps middle-aged and older adults stay physically active to reduce the chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
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 | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $935,722 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG093699-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364577 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and are willing to use mobile health tools.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unable to use or access mobile apps or wearables, or those with conditions that prevent safe physical activity, may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project offers a smartphone app and wearable-supported plan that personalizes physical activity prompts over time to sustain activity. It uses learning-based tailoring to keep people engaged for years, aiming to strengthen long-term brain health. Participants will use the Move2Joy program and be followed to see how well it helps maintain activity and potentially lower dementia risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could provide a scalable way to prevent dementia by keeping people more active over the long term.
How similar studies have gone: Prior mHealth activity programs show short- to medium-term benefits; long-term maintenance remains a challenge, which this study aims to address.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Klasnja, Predrag — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Klasnja, Predrag
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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.