RSELVES Study: How older couples influence daily life and function with Alzheimer’s risk
Official title: The RSELVES Study: Remote Sensing of (older adult partners') Engagement in Life and Variability in Everyday Support
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11581025 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how daily routines and support between older adults and their partners relate to the development of Alzheimer’s-related functional decline.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 15, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $635,311 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AG080644-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11581025 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults in long-term partnerships (married or cohabiting) at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without an intimate partner or those not at elevated risk for Alzheimer’s may be less directly impacted by the findings.
What this research studies
This study follows older couples where one or both may be at risk for Alzheimer’s disease to see how their daily activities and mutual support change over time. Researchers will track routines, independence with daily tasks, and well-being to identify patterns that precede functional decline. The project uses remote sensing and other noninvasive methods to observe real-life daily life within the home setting. The goal is to uncover ways to slow decline by understanding how partner interactions influence function and cognition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform interventions that help couples maintain daily functioning longer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows that daily activity engagement declines before dementia diagnosis, supporting the potential relevance of this dyadic approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anderson, Lyndsey Medora — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Anderson, Lyndsey Medora
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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.