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Linking Daily Dynamics of Social Connection to Physical Cognitive Functioning

Award Number: RF1AG090869
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2030

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Linking Daily Dynamics of Social Connection to Physical Cognitive Functioning - Project Summary Social connection is a basic human need, yet this need is unmet among an alarming number of adults. Our understanding of social connection, and its strong association with health, is based largely on studies assessing social experiences using static, trait-like measures of general levels of thoughts and activities. Yet, feeling socially connected varies from day to day, fluctuating as much as other commonly recognized daily emotional experiences. Currently, we do not know how these daily dynamics influence health. This knowledge would inform interventions aimed at enhancing physical functioning and decreasing cognitive declines across the adult life span. Small, daily changes have the potential to create a ripple effect that contributes to longer-term outcomes. The current proposed program examines daily dynamics of three aspects of social connection: one structural (the occurrence of a positive social interaction), and two qualitative (daily sense of belonging; and social responsivity, defined as the degree to which feelings of emotional belonging and closeness vary when people engage in a positive interaction. We will use two longitudinal daily diary datasets from the Midlife in the United States study (MIDUS): one with four waves of diary data across approximately 20 years (waves beginning in 2002; 2014, and 2023) and another with two waves of diary data across about 10 years (waves beginning in 2012 and 2023), to examine daily dynamics of social connection, how they vary by age and have changed over time, how they are linked to future physical and cognitive health and functioning among over 2900 adults ranging from 24 to 97 years-old. We will further examine how cortisol, inflammatory factors, and gene expression profiles and biomarkers of age acceleration may mediate the influence of social connection on cognitive and physical outcomes.


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 = $2,550,958 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Aging Research	000	1	6/26/2026	NEW	$2,550,958
														Subtotal = $2,550,958

Grand Total All Awards = $2,550,958

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Linking Daily Dynamics of Social Connection to Physical Cognitive Functioning

Award Number: RF1AG090869

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2030

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