Understanding the impact of discrimination on caregivers of spouses with Alzheimer's disease.
Official title: Cuidar, intentar, y lastimar (To care, try, and hurt): The Biobehavioral Role of Discrimination in ADRD Spousal Caregiving
Funded at Rice University · NIH-10937601 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how feeling lonely and isolated affects the health of people who care for their spouses with Alzheimer's and related conditions, especially focusing on Latino caregivers and how stress from discrimination might make things harder for them.
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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $137,260 |
| NIH project number | 3RF1AG075946-01A1S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10937601 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Latino spousal caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who experience feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not caregivers or those who do not identify as Latino may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how social isolation and loneliness affect the burden experienced by caregivers of spouses with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). It aims to identify how these emotional states influence physical health outcomes and to explore the role of heart rate variability in the well-being of these caregivers. Three hundred ADRD spousal caregivers will participate by completing assessments on their mental health, quality of life, and caregiver burden, as well as undergoing blood tests to evaluate inflammation and cellular aging. The study focuses particularly on Latino caregivers, examining how stress from discrimination may exacerbate health risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted interventions that improve the mental and physical health of ADRD spousal caregivers, particularly those facing discrimination.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on Latino ADRD spousal caregivers and the intersection of caregiving and discrimination is novel, related research has shown that addressing caregiver stress can lead to improved health outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
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.