Using social networks to improve sleep and mindfulness for older adults in low-income housing
Official title: Leveraging social networks to improve sleep and mindfulness among older adults in residential housing facilities
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11384736 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A woman or man aged 55+ living in low-income housing will get a Sleep Health and Mindfulness program to help sleep better and reduce stress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $268,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R34AG089176-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384736 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (55+) living in low-income housing facilities who are cognitively unimpaired and willing to participate in a behavioral program.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience noticeable sleep or mindfulness improvements in a short timeframe.
What this research studies
This project builds on an existing Sleep Health and Wellness program and adds mindfulness practices tailored for independent older adults in Boston’s low-income housing. It uses user-centered design to test messages and materials with residents, making them easy to understand and fit into daily life. The team plans iterative feedback, prototyping, and refinements to ensure the program is practical, acceptable, and accessible for people with varying levels of cognitive health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may sleep better, feel less stressed, and maintain sharper thinking as they age.
How similar studies have gone: Previous sleep interventions have improved sleep and cognition in older adults, and mindfulness components have shown benefits for stress reduction and sleep.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Robbins, Rebecca — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Robbins, Rebecca
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Mindfulness and Self-Hypnosis for Pain in Older Adults
This grant tests non-drug ways like mindfulness and self-hypnosis to help people over 60 manage chronic pain.
-
Mindfulness-based Support for Pain and Sleep in Young People with Sickle Cell Disease
A digital mindfulness program is being tailored for adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease to help with pain and sleep and is being tested for practicality and early effectiveness.
-
Mindfulness training to lower cardiovascular risk for moms and babies during pregnancy
A mindfulness program is being tested during pregnancy to help prevent high blood pressure and heart problems for mothers and their babies.
-
Mindfulness-enhanced brain stimulation for depression
This project tests whether combining a breath-focused attention training with targeted brain stimulation helps people with treatment-resistant depression think more clearly and feel better.
-
Optimizing Opioid Tapering with Mindfulness for Chronic Pain
A patient-friendly program tests a mindfulness-based approach to help adults with chronic pain reduce long-term opioid use safely.
-
Prenatal mindfulness and inflammatory pathways to support mom and baby health
A study from Oregon Health & Science University will explore how mindfulness during pregnancy might influence inflammatory signals and improve emotional well-being for mothers and healthy development for their children.
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.