Using digital health records to predict suicide risk in older adults based on loneliness and social isolation.
Official title: Integrating Loneliness and Social Isolation Insights into Late-Life Suicide Risk Prediction Through the Digital Phenotyping of Electronic Health Records
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11038964 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how feeling lonely or isolated can make older adults more likely to think about suicide, and it uses advanced technology to better spot those at risk so they can get help sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | November 13, 2024 |
| Project end | October 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $247,894 |
| NIH project number | 1R21MH139049-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11038964 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include older adults who experience feelings of loneliness or social isolation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience loneliness or social isolation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how loneliness and social isolation among older adults can increase the risk of suicide. By analyzing electronic health records (EHRs) with advanced artificial intelligence techniques, including natural language processing, the study aims to improve the accuracy of suicide risk predictions. The goal is to identify at-risk individuals earlier and provide timely interventions. This innovative approach seeks to utilize the rich narrative data within EHRs that often go unnoticed in traditional analyses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better identification and support for older adults at risk of suicide due to loneliness and social isolation.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using AI and EHR data to improve patient outcomes, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bozkurt, Selen — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Bozkurt, Selen
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using AI on health record notes to find loneliness and suicide risk in older adults
This project uses artificial intelligence to read doctors' notes and medical records to spot loneliness and help reduce suicide risk for older adults.
-
How isolation and COVID-19 affected suicide risk in youth
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-
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
This study follows older adults living with HIV who use methamphetamine to understand how loneliness and isolation change over time and relate to health care use and wellbeing.
-
Understanding how social isolation and loneliness affect brain health in Alzheimer’s risk
This research looks at how feeling isolated or lonely and the social environment might influence brain changes related to Alzheimer’s disease in adults.
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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.
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.