Social factors and brain health: how loneliness and social support affect stroke risk and recovery
Official title: The Impact of Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Support on Vascular Brain Injury: From Subclinical Small Vessel Disease to Stroke and Post-Stroke Outcomes.
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11347561 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study how social isolation and lack of support influence brain injury, stroke risk, and recovery in people over 21, using long-term data from large population studies.
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 | May 7, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $649,800 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS149168-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11347561 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older with data available in Framingham Heart Study or UK Biobank cohorts, and any individual with a history or risk of stroke who could benefit from improved risk prediction and targeted prevention.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to the cohort data or those not at risk for stroke or brain vascular injury may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to understand how social factors like loneliness and limited support relate to brain vascular injury and stroke outcomes. Using two large population cohorts—the Framingham Heart Study and the UK Biobank—the team will examine how social exposures map to subclinical brain changes, stroke characteristics, and post-stroke recovery and dementia risk. The goal is to improve risk prediction and identify actionable targets to prevent stroke and enhance recovery based on social context. The work involves analyzing existing data and imaging, with careful consideration of timing across life stages. If successful, findings could inform patient guidance and public health strategies to support brain health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could lead to better risk assessment and new strategies to prevent stroke and improve recovery by addressing social factors.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked social factors to cardiovascular and brain health, with growing evidence that social exposure relates to stroke risk and cognitive outcomes.
Where this research is happening
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Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Romero, Jose Rafael — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Romero, Jose Rafael
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.