MyGoals for Healthy Aging
The MyGoals for Healthy Aging Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial
This project tests whether giving low-income adults employment incentives plus coaching to improve thinking skills can slow age-related health problems linked to 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-11337870 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be enrolled in a multi-center program that adds extra employment supports and a field-tested coaching program aimed at improving planning, focus, and motivation. Participants are randomly assigned to receive the additional supports or usual services and are followed over multiple years. Researchers will track economic outcomes, cognitive and executive function, and health measures tied to aging and dementia risk. The goal is to see if longer intervention and follow-up can change the pace of biological aging and reduce risks for AD/ADRD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults living in poverty or low-income households who are seeking employment support and are concerned about long-term cognitive and health effects of stress and hardship.
Not a fit: People who are not low-income, are not seeking employment help, or already have advanced Alzheimer's disease dementia are unlikely to benefit from this prevention-focused intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve thinking skills and economic stability and might slow biological aging and reduce future dementia risk for people in poverty.
How similar studies have performed: A prior randomized trial (MyGoals for Employment Success) showed benefits for executive function and economic outcomes, but using extended follow-up to measure aging and dementia-related health outcomes is a new application.
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.