Understanding how sleep affects caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease
Social and Biological Influences of Sleep in ADRD Spousal Caregivers
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 ID | NIH-11160261 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are spousal caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, particularly those experiencing social isolation or loneliness.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Houston, United States
- Rice University — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fagundes, Christopher Paul — Rice University
- Study coordinator: Fagundes, Christopher Paul
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 below.