MyGoals for Healthy Aging
The MyGoals for Healthy Aging Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial
This project tests whether combining employment incentives with coaching for low-income adults can slow age-related health decline and lower risk for Alzheimer's disease.
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-11098498 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a multi-center program that offers proven employment incentives to reduce poverty and one-on-one coaching to strengthen planning and problem-solving skills. Participants are randomly assigned to receive the extra supports or usual services, and the team will follow people over several years to track health, thinking skills, and aging-related problems. The research builds on an existing MyGoals employment trial but adds more intervention time and longer medical follow-up to look for changes in diabetes, weight, brain health, and dementia risk. Data will come from interviews, health measures, and routine medical records collected at participating sites.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are low-income adults facing unemployment or unstable work, especially middle-aged or older people at higher risk for cognitive decline.
Not a fit: People who already have stable employment and adequate resources, or those with advanced dementia who cannot participate in coaching, are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help slow biological aging and reduce Alzheimer's risk by improving economic stability and cognitive functioning in low-income adults.
How similar studies have performed: Related MyGoals programs have improved employment and executive function, but using these approaches specifically to slow aging and reduce Alzheimer's risk is novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Belsky, Daniel Walker — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Belsky, Daniel Walker
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.