Social isolation and its impact on Alzheimer’s and related dementias
Official title: Project 4: Social isolation as a driver of AD/ADRD incidence and disparities
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11399299 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how feeling socially isolated may influence the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and how interventions could help reduce disparities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $744,780 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AG082653-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399299 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults at risk for ADRDs, especially those experiencing social isolation or belonging to underserved groups,
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without risk factors for ADRDs or those not experiencing social isolation may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project at Boston University Medical Campus investigates whether limited social contact in older adults contributes to the development of ADRDs and whether interventions that increase social connections could reduce risk and inequities. It reviews observational findings and designs interventions like peer matching, warm phone lines, and community groups, aiming to connect social factors with dementia prevention. The team will examine how effects may differ by age, sex, socioeconomic status, and living environment, and consider reverse causation to better understand causality. The work seeks to translate insights into actionable strategies that communities and health systems can implement to protect brain health in diverse populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to practical social interventions that may lower ADRD risk and reduce disparities among older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous observational work links social isolation to dementia risk, but randomized intervention data are limited, making this approach relatively novel yet grounded in emerging evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Torres, Jacqueline Marie — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Torres, Jacqueline Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How social isolation affects aging health in schizophrenia
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The effect of social isolation on aging health in people with schizophrenia
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UCSF Prevention Center to Reduce Loneliness in older LGBTQ+ adults
A center at UCSF will partner with communities to reduce loneliness and social isolation among LGBTQ+ adults ages 60 and up.
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Genetic and brain factors behind how people respond to social isolation
A study to understand why some individuals respond differently to social isolation by looking at genes and brain circuits.
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.