Social connectedness in ALS patients and how speech impairments affect it
Official title: Social Connectedness in People with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: The Impact of Dysarthria, Immobility, and Psychosocial Factors
Funded at Mgh Institute of Health Professions · NIH-11351009 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study with ALS patients will track how speech and mobility difficulties influence social connections using smartphones over six months.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mgh Institute of Health Professions NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlestown, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $623,691 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC021446-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11351009 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with ALS who own a smartphone and can participate remotely for six months.
✕Less likely to help
ALS patients without access to a smartphone or unable to participate remotely may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows people with ALS to understand why social connectedness declines as speech and movement become harder. Participants will use their own smartphones to complete surveys, record speech, and share location data over six months, providing a real-world view of daily social interaction. The findings aim to guide simple, practical ways to reduce loneliness and improve quality of life for people with ALS. The study is designed to be accessible, leveraging patients’ existing devices and remote participation. Researchers will look for root causes of isolation and test targeted strategies to keep patients connected.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to new, patient-friendly ways to stay socially connected despite speech and mobility challenges.
How similar studies have gone: There is some prior work on social isolation in ALS, but this project uses continuous smartphone-based data in a longitudinal design to advance understanding.
Where this research is happening
-
Mgh Institute of Health Professions
Charlestown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Connaghan, Kathryn Patricia — Mgh Institute of Health Professions
- Study coordinator: Connaghan, Kathryn Patricia
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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.