This is a NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) application intended to promote the career of Dr. Priya Palta, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to a path of independent research. Dr. Palta is a trained epidemiologist with a multidisciplinary record of research in the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD), aging, and CVD risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia. Her goal is to build on these skills through focused training in neuroscience to become an independent scientist at the interface of neuroscience and population sciences, for innovative work on modifiable targets that influence pathways associated with age-related cognitive decline. The topical areas of the proposed training and subsequent research are physical activity, age-related cognitive decline, neuroimaging, and neurotrophic factors reported to link physical activity with increased neuroplasticity. K99 Career development aim: Obtain transdisciplinary competencies in the biochemical and neural pathways that underlie cognitive function, including neurotrophic biomarkers and neuroimaging modalities through a didactic and experiential curriculum complemented by a novel prospective population-based study. These activities will be supervised by lead mentor Dr. Gerardo Heiss, MD PhD, Kenan Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology and co-mentors Dr. Kelly Evenson, PhD, Research Professor of Epidemiology, and Dr. Thomas Mosley, PhD, Professor of Medicine (Geriatrics) and Neurology. A team of collaborators with complementary expertise will supplement Dr. Palta's training in specific areas. The team of mentors and collaborators is fully committed to assisting Dr. Palta reach her research training and career development goals and to ensure her successful transition to independent researcher. Post-mentored R00 phase: Dr. Palta will apply the K99 competencies to develop an innovative R00 project nested in the cohort of the ongoing Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. For this, physical activity over 23 years and neurotrophic markers (BDNF and IGF-1) measured on the ARIC participants will be related to repeat cognitive assessments, gray matter hippocampal volumes, and adjudicated mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Anticipated results: Through this Pathway to Independence Award, Dr. Palta will acquire (1) in-depth multidisciplinary training in the measurement, analysis and interpretation of (a) neurotrophic biomarkers and (b) neuroimaging outcomes for their application in population-based studies and (2) apply these new competencies to an innovative research question on the biochemical and neural links between physical activity and neurocognitive outcomes. This proposal will contribute novel science in the (1) critical assessment of the role of midlife physical activity in delaying cognitive impairment, (2) on the population distribution of BDNF and IGF-1 and its associations with physical activity and neurocognitive outcomes, and (3) targets for community-based lifestyle and physical activity programs to impact cognitive aging.

Public Health Relevance

We examine the hypothesis that maintaining an active lifestyle through regular physical activity is beneficial in reducing age-related impairment in cognitive functioning and Alzheimer's disease risk. We address this question in a cohort of African American and white men and women followed for 23 years in average, with repeat measures of physical activity patterns, of cognitive status and biomarkers that link physical activity to plasticity of the brain. The increasing incidence of cognitive impairments in an aging population lends urgency to the identification of modifiable risk factors, such as physical activity, that can be tested as targets of individual and population-wide interventions to prevent or delay cognitive impairment in late life.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Career Transition Award (K99)
Project #
5K99AG052830-02
Application #
9340058
Study Section
Behavior and Social Science of Aging Review Committee (NIA-S)
Program Officer
Wagster, Molly V
Project Start
2016-09-01
Project End
2018-05-31
Budget Start
2017-06-01
Budget End
2018-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
$73,525
Indirect Cost
$5,446
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Walker, Keenan A; Walston, Jeremy; Gottesman, Rebecca F et al. (2018) Midlife Systemic Inflammation is Associated with Frailty in Later Life: The ARIC Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci :
Palta, Priya; Sharrett, A Richey; Deal, Jennifer A et al. (2018) Leisure-time physical activity sustained since midlife and preservation of cognitive function: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Alzheimers Dement :
Tanaka, Hirofumi; Palta, Priya; Folsom, Aaron R et al. (2018) Habitual physical activity and central artery stiffening in older adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. J Hypertens 36:1889-1894
Palta, Priya; Chen, Honglei; Deal, Jennifer A et al. (2018) Olfactory function and neurocognitive outcomes in old age: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study. Alzheimers Dement 14:1015-1021
McDoom, M Maya; Palta, Priya; Vart, Priya et al. (2018) Late life socioeconomic status and hypertension in an aging cohort: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. J Hypertens 36:1382-1390
Cuthbertson, Carmen C; Kucharska-Newton, Anna; Faurot, Keturah R et al. (2018) Controlling for Frailty in Pharmacoepidemiologic Studies of Older Adults: Validation of an Existing Medicare Claims-based Algorithm. Epidemiology 29:556-561
Hughes, Timothy M; Wagenknecht, Lynne E; Craft, Suzanne et al. (2018) Arterial stiffness and dementia pathology: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC)-PET Study. Neurology 90:e1248-e1256
Vásquez, Elizabeth; Strizich, Garrett; Isasi, Carmen R et al. (2017) Is there a relationship between accelerometer-assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior and cognitive function in US Hispanic/Latino adults? The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Prev Med 103:43-48
Palta, Priya; Carlson, Michelle C; Crum, Rosa M et al. (2017) Diabetes and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: The Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 73:123-130
Petruski-Ivleva, Natalia; Kucharska-Newton, Anna; Palta, Priya et al. (2017) Milk Intake at Midlife and Cognitive Decline over 20 Years. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Nutrients 9:

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