Understanding how aging affects sensation and balance in older adults
Official title: Cortical mechanisms and modulation of somatosensation in older adults with foot sole somatosensory impairments
Funded at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged · NIH-11014343 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how getting older affects the brain's ability to feel sensations in the feet, which is important for staying balanced and moving around safely, and it aims to find new ways to help improve foot sensation and reduce the risk of falls in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $124,874 |
| NIH project number | 5K01AG075180-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11014343 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing foot sole somatosensory impairments and related balance issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing any sensory impairments or balance issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how age-related changes impact the brain's ability to process sensations from the feet, which is crucial for maintaining balance and mobility in older adults. The study aims to identify the specific brain pathways involved in these sensory processes and explore new therapeutic approaches to enhance foot sensation. By using techniques like transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), the research seeks to improve the excitability of the brain's sensory networks, potentially leading to better balance and reduced fall risk for older individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that significantly improve balance and mobility in older adults, reducing their risk of falls.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies have shown promise in using tDCS to enhance foot-sole somatosensation in older adults, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Junhong — Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Junhong
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.