The goal of this project is to determine the contributions of sex hormone levels and sex hormone-related gene variants (polymorphisms) to cognitive decline in older men and women and to compare this contribution among black and white elders. Over 33 percent of women and 20 percent of men aged 65 and older will develop dementia during their lifetime and many more will develop a milder form of cognitive impairment. Sex hormones, primarily estradiol and testosterone, may play an important role in maintenance of cognitive health. People who have low concentrations of these hormones may have more rapid cognitive decline than those with high levels. We propose to test this hypothesis by measuring serum levels of estradiol and testosterone and 4-year changes in levels in an ongoing prospective study of 3075 elderly black and white women and men. We will also determine whether physiologically-defined candidate genetic polymorphisms involved in sex hormone metabolism and hormone receptor function are associated with cognitive decline and may play an important role in maintaining cognitive function. As little is known about sex hormones and cognition in older black men and women, we will also determine if associations are similar for black and white elders.
Our aims will be addressed as part of the 7- year NIH-funded Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study, currently finishing Year 5. The careful measurement of cognitive e function on multiple domains over 7 years, as well as having stored serum and extracted DNA, will allow for a very efficient approach to answering these questions. Further knowledge of the association between sex hormones, hormone-related polymorphisms and cognitive decline may facilitate preventative strategies to maintain independence and to promote optimum brain aging.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG021918-03
Application #
6942625
Study Section
Epidemiology and Disease Control Subcommittee 2 (EDC)
Program Officer
Wagster, Molly V
Project Start
2003-09-30
Project End
2007-08-31
Budget Start
2005-09-01
Budget End
2006-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$266,314
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
094878337
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94143
Beaudreau, Sherry A; Spira, Adam P; Stewart, Anita et al. (2012) Validation of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale in older black and white women. Sleep Med 13:36-42
Yaffe, Kristine; Lindquist, Karla; Kluse, Molly et al. (2011) Telomere length and cognitive function in community-dwelling elders: findings from the Health ABC Study. Neurobiol Aging 32:2055-60
O'Donovan, Aoife; Pantell, Matthew S; Puterman, Eli et al. (2011) Cumulative inflammatory load is associated with short leukocyte telomere length in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. PLoS One 6:e19687
Whitmer, Rachel A; Quesenberry, Charles P; Zhou, Jufen et al. (2011) Timing of hormone therapy and dementia: the critical window theory revisited. Ann Neurol 69:163-9
Slinin, Y; Paudel, M L; Taylor, B C et al. (2010) 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels and cognitive performance and decline in elderly men. Neurology 74:33-41
Fiocco, A J; Lindquist, K; Ferrell, R et al. (2010) COMT genotype and cognitive function: an 8-year longitudinal study in white and black elders. Neurology 74:1296-302
Yaffe, Kristine; Lindquist, Karla; Vittinghoff, Eric et al. (2010) The effect of maintaining cognition on risk of disability and death. J Am Geriatr Soc 58:889-94
Holden, Karen F; Lindquist, Karla; Tylavsky, Frances A et al. (2009) Serum leptin level and cognition in the elderly: Findings from the Health ABC Study. Neurobiol Aging 30:1483-9
Yaffe, K; Fiocco, A J; Lindquist, K et al. (2009) Predictors of maintaining cognitive function in older adults: the Health ABC study. Neurology 72:2029-35
Yaffe, Kristine; Lindquist, Karla; Sen, Saunak et al. (2009) Estrogen receptor genotype and risk of cognitive impairment in elders: findings from the Health ABC study. Neurobiol Aging 30:607-14

Showing the most recent 10 out of 30 publications