Sitting time and Alzheimer's risk in middle-aged and older adults
Official title: Inactivity, sedentary behavior, and the risk for Alzheimer’s disease in middle aged to older adults
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11311323 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether spending more time sitting is linked to worse brain health and higher Alzheimer's risk in middle-aged and older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $664,412 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG072445-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311323 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are middle-aged to older adults without dementia who can wear an activity monitor and complete periodic cognitive tests and follow-up visits.
✕Less likely to help
People already living with advanced Alzheimer's or those unable to wear activity monitors or change daily sitting patterns are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
You would be part of a large group of adults whose daily activity is tracked, often with devices that measure how much time you spend sitting versus moving. Researchers will compare sitting time to brain scans, thinking tests, and who goes on to develop Alzheimer's or other dementias over years of follow-up. The team uses data from accelerometers and routine study visits to see if more sitting relates to smaller brain volume, poorer memory, or higher dementia rates. The goal is to find simple behavior changes, like cutting down sitting time, that might be easier than starting a new exercise routine.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the work shows sitting time raises Alzheimer's risk, it could point to reducing sitting as an easier way to protect brain health.
How similar studies have gone: Past studies show exercise can help preserve thinking skills and brain structure, but specifically linking sitting time to Alzheimer's risk is a newer and still growing area of research.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raichlen, David — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Raichlen, David
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
The impact of inactivity and sitting on the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults
This study is looking at how sitting too much might impact brain health and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in middle-aged and older adults, and it will involve tracking your activity levels to see how staying active can help keep your mind sharp.
-
Understanding how brain activity changes may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression in a mouse model
Researchers are testing how changes in brain signals and protein cleanup processes affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
-
Thiamine-boosting therapy for Alzheimer’s: understanding how benfotiamine may reduce harmful AGE in DP patients
A medication-based approach using high-dose vitamin B1 (benfotiamine) is studied to help people with Alzheimer's by reducing harmful sugar-related molecules.
-
Non-invasive tears biomarker for early Alzheimer's in LMICs
A low-cost, tear-based biomarker approach aims to detect early Alzheimer’s disease in older adults in Peru and similar settings.
-
Turning APOE4 into protective APOE2 or APOE3Christchurch to help with Alzheimer’s
A patient-facing explanation of a treatment idea that aims to change a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in the brain.
-
Telomerase in Alzheimer’s Disease: how aging biology could influence memory and brain health
Researchers are exploring a new brain-aging mechanism linked to telomerase, with potential to slow or modify Alzheimer’s disease in people and improve cognitive function.
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.