Project FRONTIER: Understanding Alzheimer’s risk and protection in rural vs urban seniors
Official title: Project FRONTIER
Funded at Texas Tech University Health Scis Center · NIH-11234893 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A NIH grant-funded project aims to understand how psychosocial and environmental factors affect brain health in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, comparing rural and urban communities to find ways to support better outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Tech University Health Scis Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lubbock, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $450,818 |
| NIH project number | 1U54MD020892-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11234893 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with or at risk for Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, particularly those in rural communities who may have limited access to diagnostic resources.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without aging or cognitive concerns or those not residing in rural areas may not directly benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
This project uses data from Project FRONTIER and nationwide databases to examine how stress, emotion regulation, education, depression, and exposure to pollution relate to cognitive functioning in adults 21 years and older. It will compare rural and urban populations to identify differences in risk and protective factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The team will look at measures like working memory and executive function to see how environmental and psychosocial factors influence progression and quality of life. The work aims to improve diagnostic tools, access to care, caregiver support, and assessment of disease progression in rural communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better identification of at-risk individuals and more tailored interventions for people with AD/ADRD in rural and urban settings.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show urban-rural differences in dementia care and outcomes, but this project seeks to deepen understanding using specific psychosocial and environmental factors.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Tech University Health Scis Center
Lubbock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singer, Jonathan — Texas Tech University Health Scis Center
- Study coordinator: Singer, Jonathan
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.