# Active Help, Immune Function and Health Outcomes in Alzheimer's Caregivers

> **NIH NIH R01** · STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK · 2022 · $779,333

## Abstract

This proposal uses ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods to examine
how the provision of active help to individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and related
dementias (ADRD) influences the immune system and health of ADRD caregivers.
We hypothesize that caregivers who feel emotionally close to the care recipient will
show improvements in immune system biomarkers, self-reported health outcomes,
and health-related quality of life as their active help increases. Two hundred and
fifty caregivers will be recruited from the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s
Disease of Long Island to participate in a three-wave longitudinal study in which we
will collect data at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. We will use EMA methods to
collect data on active help and the caregiving context at baseline and 6 months, and
and we will assess immune system activity and self-reported health outcomes at
baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Our analyses will test whether active help is
beneficially associated with makers of inflammation (e.g., Il-6/TnF alpha-receptor)
and repair (e.g., SOD, progesterone) among caregivers who feel emotionally close to
the recipient.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10427209
- **Project number:** 5R01AG057853-05
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK
- **Principal Investigator:** STEPHANIE L BROWN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $779,333
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-15 → 2023-11-02

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10427209

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10427209, Active Help, Immune Function and Health Outcomes in Alzheimer's Caregivers (5R01AG057853-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10427209. Licensed CC0.

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