Behavioral and Social Pathways to AD/ADRD

Description

BSR supports research to identify behavioral, social, and biobehavioral risk and protective factors (e.g., educational attainment, work/occupation, personality, social engagement, smoking, obesity, sleep, physical activity, diet, adverse childhood experiences, socioeconomic status) on the pathway to cognitive decline and AD/ADRD. This portfolio includes basic behavioral and social research designed to elucidate causal mechanisms and processes accounting for associations between these factors and cognitive outcomes in later life. Studies range from deeply phenotyped longitudinal cohort studies to mechanistic studies that test, through experimentation, the malleability of behavioral and social intervention targets that are hypothesized to be linked to cognitive decline and AD/ADRD.

We also support the development of measures of additional social, psychological, and environmental exposures and constructs for inclusion in future larger scale observational and interventional studies of dementia risk and resilience.

Related AD+ADRD Research Implementation Milestones: 1B, 2J

Active Projects as of September 2021: Behavioral and social pathways

Research Programs and Contacts

Program Contact	Relevant Area(s)
Frank Bandiera	Structural racism Immigration
Melissa Gerald	Vulnerable populations including sexual and gender minorities, the incarcerated, and populations at risk of elder mistreatment
Amelia Karraker	Family structure Education and cognition
Jonathan W. King	Exposome Longitudinal studies of cognitive aging
Liz Necka	Social engagement and interpersonal processes
Lisa Onken	Behavioral intervention development
John Phillips	Work/occupation factors Socioeconomic status
Janine M. Simmons	Deeply phenotyped longitudinal cohort studies Personality and adverse childhood experiences
Luke E. Stoeckel	Health behaviors and lifestyle factors; behavioral phenotypes

Funding Opportunities

Active funding opportunities related to behavioral and social pathways to AD/ADRD are listed below. In addition, any AD/ADRD-focused application can be submitted to NIA’s parent AD/ADRD R01 and R21 program announcements. Notices of Special Interest associated with these parent NOFOs specify high priority behavioral and social research topics. For a list of all of BSR’s active funding opportunities, visit our funding opportunities and applicant resources page.

NOFO Number	Title	Release Date	Expiration Date
RFA-AG-24-011	Research Coordinating Center on the Exposome and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD): Elucidating the Role of Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health in AD/ADRD Etiology and Disparities (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)	2/9/2023	9/28/2023
PAR-22-213	Complex Integrated Multi-Component Projects in Aging Research (U19 Clinical Trial Optional)	7/7/2022	9/26/2025
NOT-AG-21-050	Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Sex and Gender Differences in Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)	1/6/2022	11/13/2024
PAR-21-352	Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Social Connectedness and Isolation on Health, Wellbeing, Illness, and Recovery (R01 Clinical Trial Required)	10/5/2021	9/8/2024
PAR-21-350	Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Social Connectedness and Isolation on Health, Wellbeing, Illness, and Recovery (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)	10/5/2021	6/22/2024
PAR-21-349	Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Social Connectedness and Isolation on Health, Wellbeing, Illness, and Recovery (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)	10/5/2021	6/22/2024
PAR-21-275	The Role of Work in Health Disparities in the U.S. (R01 Clinical Trials Optional)	6/25/2021	9/8/2024
NOT-AT-21-002	Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Promoting Research on Interoception and Its Impact on Health and Disease	1/22/2021	5/7/2024

Research Investments

BSR has supported research projects focused on behavioral and social pathways to AD/ADRD through targeted notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Although some of these funding opportunities are no longer active, the topics outlined in the announcements remain priority research areas for BSR. Applications on these topics should be submitted through a relevant active NOFO or through NIA’s parent AD/ADRD R01 and R21 program announcements.

NOT-AG-20-040 - Notice of Special Interest: Basic and Translational Research on Affective, Motivational, and Social Function in Normative Aging and/or Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). Funded Project Descriptions.
PAR-19-373: Research on biopsychosocial factors of social connectedness and isolation on health, wellbeing, illness, and recovery. Funded Project Descriptions.
PAR-16-448, PAR-16-449, PAR-18-538 and PAR-18-544 - Basic and Translational Research on Decision Making in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease. Funded Project Descriptions.
National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health)
Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS)
Stress Measurement Network
Reversibility Network

Related Workshops & Reports

Decadal Survey of Behavioral and Social Science Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias, August 14, 2019 - July 8, 2020

Understanding Pathways to Successful Aging: Behavioral and Social Factors Related to Alzheimer's Disease, June 2017

Childhood Adversity, Adult Health, and Preventive Interventions: The Potential Role of New Findings on Neuroplasticity, April 19-20, 2017

The Effect of Education on Recent Dementia Trends: A Look Forward (PDF, 307K), September 2016

Modifying Facets of Personality in Midlife to Promote Well-being and Healthier Aging, June 9-10, 2016

Return to BSR’s AD/ADRD Page