New daily loneliness indicators and aging outcomes
Official title: Novel Indicators of Day-to-Day Loneliness and Aging: Examining Biological, Phenotypic, and Functional Outcomes Across Multiple Timescales
Funded at Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-11434934 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how day-to-day loneliness affects aging and health in adults, to uncover how loneliness might speed up biological aging and functional decline.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $677,756 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG104067-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11434934 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older who participate in or are part of ongoing aging studies or cohorts and who experience daily loneliness.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not experiencing loneliness or not enrolled in aging cohorts may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how daily changes in loneliness relate to aging over time, using data from two long-term studies of adults. It examines three patterns—average loneliness, day-to-day fluctuations, and responses to daily events—and how these relate to biological, physical, and cognitive aging. By following participants over several years, the team aims to connect everyday feelings of loneliness with long-term health outcomes and to see whether behaviors like smoking or poor sleep worsen these effects. The study leverages existing cohorts to explore mechanisms and potential intervention points to improve aging health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform interventions to reduce loneliness-related aging risks and improve longevity and healthspan for adults.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests daily loneliness patterns relate to health outcomes, though this project expands to multiple aging pathways and long-term effects.
Where this research is happening
-
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koffer, Rachel E — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Koffer, Rachel E
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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.