Psychological factors, quality of life, community, and brain aging in American Indians
Official title: Psychological risk factors, quality of life, community, and brain aging in American Indians: The Strong Heart Study
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11413437 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how stress, mood, and community ties affect brain aging and risk of dementia in American Indian adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $585,747 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG071677-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413437 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults aged 21 or older who are part of or closely connected to the Strong Heart Study cohort and consent to long-term cognitive and psychosocial assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience direct personal benefit, as results apply to future prevention strategies and population-level insights.
What this research studies
The project will follow a group of American Indian adults from the Strong Heart Study to see how psychological factors like stress, depression, and substance use relate to changes in thinking abilities over time. Researchers will collect data on mood, quality of life, social connections, and health measures to understand how these factors may influence cognitive aging. The study aims to identify risk and protective factors so prevention strategies can be developed to reduce later dementia risk in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide culturally appropriate ways to support mental health and community factors to protect cognitive health in American Indian communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows links between psychosocial factors and cognitive outcomes, but this study will add longitudinal data in American Indian populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Suchy-Dicey, Astrid M — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Suchy-Dicey, Astrid M
Related research
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Investigating psychological factors and brain aging in American Indians
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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.