# A Personalized Health Behavior System to Promote Well-Being in Older Adults

> **NIH NIH R01** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2020 · $736,726

## Abstract

Abstract
 People aged 65+ will represent 21% of the U.S. population and increase to about 80 million by 2040,
and the oldest old (age 85+) will number ~ 14.1 million. Population aging presents both opportunities and
challenges for our healthcare, the economy, and existing social support systems. Many older adults especially
the oldest old, minorities and those of lower Socio-Economic status (SES) are particularly vulnerable to social
isolation, poor diet, and decreased levels of physical activity each of which influence morbidity and mortality.
Mobile-based, tablet-based, and in-home technologies provide an excellent opportunity for projecting behavior-
change interventions and social support into the everyday life of older adults at great economies of scale. The
objectives of this study are to examine the usability and efficacy, for diverse older adults, of a new tablet-based
dynamic system: the Fittle Senior System (FSS) that will provide: (1) personalized behavior-change programs
for improved diet and increased physical activity and (2) online social interaction and support from small teams
pursuing similar goals. The system builds on two technology-based systems developed by the investigative
team: (1) the computer-based PRISM system, designed for older populations to support social connectivity and
well-being, and (2) the Fittle+ mobile platform designed to support positive health behavior change through
integrated online social support and personalized coaching based on artificial intelligence (AI). The study will
be conducted in two phases. During Phase 1 we will develop and pilot test the FSS with representative
samples of older adults. Phase 2 will involve a two group randomized trial where participants will be
randomized to the Fittle Senior System (FSS, an adaptive coaching and social support system using mobile
technology) or to a paper-based psycho-educational (BPE) control condition following a baseline assessment.
The duration of the intervention phase will involve an active 12-week intervention phase followed by a 12-week
maintenance phase. We will recruit and randomize 180 community dwelling adults aged 65+ years, who live
alone and are at risk for social isolation (90 per condition - 30 White Caucasians, 30 Black/African Americans
and 30 Hispanic Americans). We will recruit males and females commensurate to the gender proportions
represented in this age group and work to ensure that we have sufficient representation from the “oldest old”
cohort. Participants will be assessed at baseline, 3mths post active intervention and 3mths post maintenance
(6mths following active intervention) on clinically significant measures of health and health behaviors and
indices of social support. We will also gather information on potential moderating (e.g., ethnicity, age) and
mediating variables (e.g., health self-efficacy), which will be examined using multilevel modeling techniques
guided by current theories of behavior change and technology ac...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9928376
- **Project number:** 5R01AG053163-05
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** SARA J CZAJA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $736,726
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-15 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9928376

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9928376, A Personalized Health Behavior System to Promote Well-Being in Older Adults (5R01AG053163-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9928376. Licensed CC0.

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