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Understanding how social cognition protects older adults' cognitive health: the role of social connectedness

Award Number: RF1AG070931
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2030

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Understanding how social cognition protects older adults' cognitive health: the role of social connectedness - PROJECT SUMMARY This renewal application uses behavioral, neuroimaging, and network science approaches to test the novel hypothesis that social cognition – the process by which people understand, store, and apply information about others – confers resilience to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and is stimulated through social connectedness. Social connectedness is a modifiable lifestyle factor that is a promising target for delaying the onset of AD and related dementias. In the prior funding period, we found that maintaining social connectedness through large, loosely connected personal social networks (social bridging networks) confers resilience to cognitive decline and AD. Critically, we identified social cognition as a key mechanism underlying this relationship, and found that social cognitive function explains up to 15 percent of older adults’ episodic memory loss 2-3 years later. Together, these findings suggest that social cognitive function may be an indicator of cognitive decline, though no prior work has examined this possibility. The current project uses rigorous longitudinal, neuroimaging, and experimental approaches from a large and unique dataset to test this possibility. In Aim 1, we leverage ongoing and new data collection with more than 300 older adults across two sites, including the Indiana AD Research Center, to determine the effect of social cognitive decline on cognitive decline over time. Aim 2 is secondary data analysis of an existing and unique neuroimaging dataset that will determine whether social cognition is a form of enrichment that mediates the relationship between social connectedness and cognitive resilience. Finally, Aim 3 uses well-validated experimental manipulations and social neuroscience approaches to examine the causal relationship between social connectedness and older adults’ social cognition. This project builds on innovative findings from a productive ongoing interdisciplinary collaboration and leverages significant existing NIH investments in AD research infrastructure to test novel longitudinal and experimental hypotheses. As such, it will provide important insights into causal relationships between social networks, brain networks, social cognitive function, and cognitive resilience among older adults. This knowledge is critical for identifying effective social intervention targets for AD prevention and healthy cognitive aging. The long-term goals of this project are to improve the clinical course of AD and reduce the prevalence and public health impact of dementia.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $3,141,264 )
2026	2026	TRUSTEES OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY	107 S INDIANA AVE	BLOOMINGTON	IN	47405	MONROE	USA	Aging Research	000	6	6/8/2026	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$3,141,264
														Subtotal = $3,141,264

Grand Total All Awards = $3,141,264

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Understanding how social cognition protects older adults' cognitive health: the role of social connectedness

Award Number: RF1AG070931

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2030

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