Understanding balance issues in older adults with dementia
Official title: The Proactive and Reactive Neuromechanics of Instability in Aging and Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10749539 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how aging and Dementia with Lewy Bodies affect balance and the chances of falling in older adults, so we can better understand how to help keep them steady on their feet.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $39,468 |
| NIH project number | 1F31AG084241-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10749539 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include older adults diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy Bodies and age-matched older adults without dementia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not elderly or do not have cognitive impairments related to dementia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how aging and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) affect balance and the risk of falls in older adults. It aims to develop a better understanding of the neuromechanics involved in standing and walking balance control. By studying the differences in proactive and reactive balance responses among young adults, older adults with DLB, and age-matched peers, the research seeks to identify the mechanisms that lead to increased fall risk. The study will utilize advanced techniques such as motion capture and electromyography to gather data on balance performance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing falls in older adults with dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding balance mechanisms can lead to effective fall prevention strategies, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eichenlaub, Emily Kathryn — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Eichenlaub, Emily Kathryn
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding Balance Problems in Aging and Lewy Body Dementia
This project aims to understand why older adults, especially those with Lewy Body Dementia, have trouble with balance and are at high risk for falls.
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Understanding how heparan sulfate affects alpha-synuclein in Lewy body dementia
A small study in people who have dementia with Lewy bodies looks at how a brain sugar (heparan sulfate) helps a harmful protein (alpha-synuclein) spread, with the hope of slowing disease progression.
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Long-term Effects of a Natural Disaster on Cognitive Aging and Dementia in Older Adults
This project follows older adults affected by a major natural disaster to understand how long-term stress may influence aging, memory, and risk for dementia.
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Health, Aging and Dementia in South Africa: A Longitudinal Study
A long-term study in South Africa follows adults 40 and older to understand how aging affects dementia and Alzheimer’s, using surveys, cognitive tests, and biomarkers.
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Health, Aging and Dementia in South Africa: A Longitudinal Study
A long-term study in South Africa follows adults as they age to understand how dementia and Alzheimer’s affect people in LMIC settings.
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Health, Aging and Dementia in South Africa: A Longitudinal Study
A long-term study in South Africa follows adults as they age to better understand dementia and related factors.
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.