# Brain and Behavioral Mechanisms Linking Loneliness and Social Isolation with Accelerated Cognitive Aging and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

> **NIH NIH K24** · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · 2024 · $164,229

## Abstract

Brain and Behavioral Mechanisms Linking Loneliness and Social Isolation with Accelerated Cognitive Aging
 and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Loneliness and social isolation (SIL) increase risk for all ten leading causes of death in the U.S. and are
strongly linked to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Reducing SIL
can foster healthy aging, improve mental and physical health, optimize quality of life, and prevent cognitive
decline and ADRD. However, healthcare has not capitalized on promoting social connection as preventive
medicine: it is not routinely assessed nor treated, in part because current data do not allow for definitive
conclusions about evidence-based approaches. Dr. Van Orden’s research aims to identify evidence-based
strategies for SIL—grounded in the study of mechanisms—to promote healthy aging and increase quality of life
for older adults. In line with NIA priorities of increasing understanding of the aging brain and ADRD; developing
interventions to address ADRD and promote healthy brain aging; and understanding mechanisms underlying
effective interventions, the objective of this mid-career K24 award in patient-oriented research (POR) is to
incorporate the study of cognition and healthy brain aging into Dr. Van Orden’s research on SIL interventions
to understand benefits for brain aging (and preventing ADRD) as well as identifying intervention targets to
optimize interventions. This K24 will allow her to develop capacity in interdisciplinary science in healthy brain
aging by co-mentoring clinical scientists who study ADRD as well as basic scientists in neuroscience (and
related disciplines) to foster development of a program of research on the translational science of SIL and its
role in brain aging. Dr. Van Orden’s long-term objective in POR is to identify and disseminate evidence-based
interventions for SIL in later life, including determining the mechanisms that account for improved health
outcomes—mental health, cognitive health, and physical health outcomes. The research project component of
this proposal is designed to advance the translational science of SIL and brain aging while producing an
optimal training laboratory for mentees. The scientific premise is that SIL and brain aging have reciprocal
associations that can result in a downward spiral towards unhealthy brain aging and ADRD, or with
intervention, an upward spiral towards healthy brain aging and social connection. To produce efficient training
for mentees, the project relies on published data (meta-analysis) and secondary analyses of completed trials
(from the PI’s laboratory and NIA-funded Roybal ADRD caregiving research center). The first aim is to examine
whether behavioral interventions for SIL improve cognitive functioning. The second aim it to examine baseline
cognitive impairment as a prognostic indicator for improvement in SIL. The third aim is to examine potential
mechanisms for non-compliance to SIL interv...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10784034
- **Project number:** 1K24AG084885-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Kimberly Allison Van Orden
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $164,229
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-15 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10784034

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10784034, Brain and Behavioral Mechanisms Linking Loneliness and Social Isolation with Accelerated Cognitive Aging and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (1K24AG084885-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10784034. Licensed CC0.

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