Understanding how difficult social experiences affect memory and dementia risk in diverse twins
Official title: The impact of adverse interpersonal experiences (AIE) on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in ethnically diverse twins
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11128644 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how challenging social experiences might influence memory problems and the risk for Alzheimer's and related dementias in a diverse group of twins.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2016 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,007,701 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG053217-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128644 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are ethnically diverse monozygotic and dizygotic same-sex twin pairs who have previously participated in the Minnesota-Carolina Twin Study of Aging.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not part of the existing twin study or who do not meet the age and health criteria for the follow-up assessments may not directly benefit from participation.
What this research studies
We are exploring how difficult social experiences, like loneliness or conflict, might affect your memory and thinking as you get older. This project builds on an existing study of 800 diverse twin pairs, where we previously gathered information about their social lives. Now, we are adding new tests to check for mild memory problems and using daily diaries to see how everyday social interactions might influence brain function over time. Our goal is to understand how these experiences might increase the risk for conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us understand how social connections impact brain health, potentially leading to new ways to prevent or delay memory decline and dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown a link between social experiences and cognitive health, but this project aims to further detail this association with a greater diversity of adverse interpersonal experiences and a daily-level focus.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krueger, Robert F — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Krueger, Robert F
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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.