Understanding how sleep affects caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Social and Biological Influences of Sleep in ADRD Spousal Caregivers
Funded at Rice University · NIH-11160261 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how feeling lonely and isolated affects the health of people who care for loved ones with Alzheimer's and similar conditions, especially focusing on their sleep and overall well-being, and it involves 300 caregivers who will share their experiences and undergo some health checks over two weeks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rice University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | May 10, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $108,798 |
| NIH project number | 3RF1AG075946-01A1S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160261 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are spousal caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, particularly those experiencing social isolation or loneliness.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not caregivers or those who do not have a spouse with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of social isolation and loneliness on the health of spousal caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It aims to identify how these factors contribute to caregiver burden and physical health outcomes, particularly focusing on sleep quality. The study will involve 300 caregivers who will complete various assessments related to their mental and physical well-being, including blood tests to evaluate inflammation and cellular aging. Additionally, caregivers will undergo momentary assessments of their emotional state and heart rate variability over a two-week period to better understand the relationship between sleep and caregiving stress.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health and well-being for caregivers by identifying effective interventions to enhance their sleep quality.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that addressing social and biological factors can significantly improve caregiver health outcomes, suggesting that this approach may yield beneficial results.
Where this research is happening
-
Rice University
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fagundes, Christopher Paul — Rice University
- Study coordinator: Fagundes, Christopher Paul
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Social media support for Alzheimer's caregivers powered by AI chat help
A caregiver-focused program for families of people with Alzheimer's and related dementias uses an AI-enhanced social media approach to provide daily supportive messages and online discussions.
-
Personalized mental health toolkit for teachers and caregivers in Uganda
A new mobile app helps teachers and parents in Uganda manage stress and mental health more easily using personalized tips and local resources.
-
Mobile app to help family caregivers in Thailand manage distress
A mobile app called CAMMA would help family members caring for adults with chronic illnesses in Thailand feel less depressed and anxious through a culturally tailored mental health support program.
-
Adaptation of PATH-Pain for Dementia Family Caregivers Living with Persistent Pain and Negative Emotions
Aimed at helping dementia family caregivers who live with ongoing pain and negative feelings by adapting a pain-management program to fit their caregiving needs.
-
Improving Child Neurodevelopment through Gut Health and Caregiver Support in Guatemala
A study in Guatemala tests a nutrition and caregiver-training approach to support development in young children who are at risk for malnutrition and poor neurodevelopment.
-
Maximizing Home Health Aide Support for Veterans and their Caregivers
A VA-focused project to improve access and stability of home health aide services for older veterans and reduce caregiver burden.
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.