Identifying potential targets for interventions to reduce age-related cognitive morbidity in diverse elders is of critical importance to the rapidly expanding aging population in the U.S. Substantial evidence from observational studies suggest that modifiable positive psychosocial factors (i.e., well-being, self-efficacy, social support) are associated with better cognitive functioning among older adults. These effects are independent of negative affect (e.g., depression). However, little attention has been given to subgroups of older adults who are particularly vulnerable to age-related cognitive morbidity: African Americans, Hispanics, and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In addition, it is unclear whether these positive psychosocial factors buffer against the negative cognitive effects of brain pathology, as measured with structural magnetic resonance imaging. This K99/R00 proposal lays the foundation for an independent research career focused on characterizing the mechanisms underlying psychosocial factors that protect against age-related cognitive morbidity among a diverse population. Together, the research and training plans will provide the applicant (1) supplementary training in modeling neuroimaging biomarker data in an aged population, (2) broader experience with psychosocial variables in aging, and (3) a strong foundation in cross-cultural neuropsychology. These experiences will supplement the applicant's strong existing background in geriatric neuropsychology and quantitative methods. The research plan expands an existing community-based longitudinal study of multi-ethnic older adults at Columbia University. This diverse population is followed every 18-24 months with cognitive testing, medical evaluation, health measures, and consensus diagnoses of MCI/dementia. A subset receives structural neuroimaging. This proposal adds well-validated, computer-based measures of psychosocial functioning and cognition from the NIH Toolbox. Cross-sectional and longitudinal structural equation models (SEM) will test relationships between positive psychosocial factors, cognition, and quantitated measures of hippocampal volume, regional cortical thickness, white matter hyperintensity volume, and infarcts. The primary goal is to characterize the role of positive psychosocial factors in late-life cognitive decline and to determine whether they reduce the impact of structural MRI markers of brain pathology on cognitive functioning.

Public Health Relevance

Characterizing potential intervention targets to reduce age-related cognitive morbidity in diverse elders is of critical importance to the U.S. aging populatio. This proposal aims to determine which positive psychosocial factors (1) buffer the impact of brain pathology on cognition and (2) protect against cognitive decline in older adults of different racial/ethnic backgrounds and cognitive abilities.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Transition Award (R00)
Project #
5R00AG047963-04
Application #
9358669
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Program Officer
King, Jonathan W
Project Start
2016-09-30
Project End
2019-05-31
Budget Start
2017-06-15
Budget End
2018-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
$248,284
Indirect Cost
$20,404
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Zahodne, Laura B; Watson, Caitlin W-M; Seehra, Sonia et al. (2018) Positive Psychosocial Factors and Cognition in Ethnically Diverse Older Adults. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 24:294-304
Zahodne, Laura B; Schupf, Nicole; Brickman, Adam M (2018) Control beliefs are associated with preserved memory function in the face of low hippocampal volume among diverse older adults. Brain Imaging Behav 12:1112-1120
Zahodne, Laura B; Kraal, A Zarina; Zaheed, Afsara et al. (2018) Subjective Social Status Predicts Late-Life Memory Trajectories through Both Mental and Physical Health Pathways. Gerontology 64:466-474
Power, Melinda C; Mormino, Elizabeth; Soldan, Anja et al. (2018) Combined neuropathological pathways account for age-related risk of dementia. Ann Neurol 84:10-22
Zahodne, Laura B; Gilsanz, Paola; Glymour, M Maria et al. (2017) Comparing Variability, Severity, and Persistence of Depressive Symptoms as Predictors of Future Stroke Risk. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 25:120-128
Zahodne, Laura B; Manly, Jennifer J; Smith, Jacqui et al. (2017) Socioeconomic, health, and psychosocial mediators of racial disparities in cognition in early, middle, and late adulthood. Psychol Aging 32:118-130
Sunderaraman, Preeti; Zahodne, Laura B; Manly, Jennifer J (2016) A commentary on 'generally representative is representative of none: pitfalls of IQ test standardization in multicultural settings' by A.B. Shuttleworth-Edwards. Clin Neuropsychol 30:999-1005
Zahodne, Laura B; Schupf, Nicole; Brickman, Adam M et al. (2016) Dementia Risk and Protective Factors Differ in the Context of Memory Trajectory Groups. J Alzheimers Dis 52:1013-20