Social connection and suicide risk for ADRD caregivers
Official title: Social Connection and Suicide Risk in ADRD Caregivers
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11332753 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in adults who care for someone with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias will look at how feeling lonely or like a burden affects suicide risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $443,024 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG082882-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332753 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Caregivers of adults with ADRD who are actively providing care.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers not experiencing social disconnection or suicide risk may be less directly affected.
What this research studies
If you care for a family member or friend with ADRD, this project will explore how your sense of connectedness to others relates to feelings of loneliness, burden, and thoughts about suicide. Researchers will build on prior work from the Rochester Roybal Center to measure social ties, belonging, and perceived burden, and see how these relate to mental health outcomes over time. The team aims to identify key moments when social connection could buffer distress and reduce suicide risk. The study uses surveys and interviews with caregivers to understand these relationships in everyday caregiving life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could inform support services that strengthen caregiver social networks and reduce suicide risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows a strong link between social disconnection and suicide risk, supporting the study's approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Orden, Kimberly Allison — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Van Orden, Kimberly Allison
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.