Understanding loneliness and social isolation in people with dementia
Official title: Loneliness and Social Isolation in People with Dementia
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11265779 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how feeling lonely and having fewer social contacts affects people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and their caregivers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2020 |
| Project end | February 28, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $257,578 |
| NIH project number | 2P01AG066605-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11265779 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are people living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, often along with their family or paid caregivers, who can complete surveys or interviews or allow review of their care records.
✕Less likely to help
People without dementia or those unwilling or unable to participate in interviews, surveys, or record-sharing are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
What this research studies
From the patient's perspective, researchers will measure both the feeling of loneliness and the objective number of social contacts in people with dementia and their caregivers. They will combine surveys, caregiver reports, and clinical records to track how social connection relates to quality of life, care use, and health outcomes. The team will also examine the role of community-based supports like home care, meal programs, and volunteer activities in people's social lives. Findings will be used to identify which supports might help people with dementia stay better connected and cared for.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to practical ways to reduce loneliness and improve care and quality of life for people with dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research links loneliness to worse health outcomes in older adults, but few large programs have specifically focused on how social connection and community supports affect people with dementia and their caregivers, so this work builds on prior findings while addressing a gap.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Alexander Keliimoeanu — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Smith, Alexander Keliimoeanu
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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This study looks at how feeling lonely or being socially isolated affects the health and happiness of older adults, especially those nearing the end of life, including those with Alzheimer's and related conditions, to help improve their overall well-being.
-
How social connections and loneliness affect thinking in older adults
A study of how feeling lonely and actually having few social contacts influence thinking skills and risk of dementia in older adults.
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Trajectories of loneliness and social isolation in older adults with HIV who use methamphetamine
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Understanding how social isolation and loneliness affect brain health in Alzheimer’s risk
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Social factors and brain health: how loneliness and social support affect stroke risk and recovery
Researchers will study how social isolation and lack of support influence brain injury, stroke risk, and recovery in people over 21, using long-term data from large population studies.
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Dyadic approach to reduce stress and loneliness in breast cancer survivors and families
A family-focused program helps breast cancer survivors and their caregivers cope with stress and isolation using a web-based, collaborative approach.
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.