Understanding loneliness in stroke survivors to improve care
Official title: Multidimensional Risk Profiles and Mechanisms for Loneliness in Stroke Survivors: A Socioecological Approach
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11450888 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study will identify different loneliness risk profiles in adults who had a stroke or TIA to help tailor support and interventions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 2, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,356,083 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1AG097599-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450888 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older who have experienced a stroke or transient ischemic attack.
✕Less likely to help
Stroke/TIA survivors who do not experience loneliness or do not participate in follow-up assessments may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will enroll about 1,000 stroke/TIA survivors within a year after their event and collect data on personal, social, and community factors that contribute to loneliness. Using a socioecological framework, researchers will examine how risks cluster together across individual, relationship, and neighborhood levels. The goal is to map distinct loneliness risk profiles so future programs can target the right factors for each patient. Results could guide personalized resources and interventions to reduce loneliness and potentially improve cardiovascular health. The study leverages emergency department-based recruitment to reach a representative sample across diverse backgrounds.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more personalized support to reduce loneliness and its associated health risks after stroke or TIA.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show loneliness is linked to worse health, but this project aims to identify specific risk profiles in stroke survivors, which is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Birk, Jeffrey Lee — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Birk, Jeffrey Lee
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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.