This project will explore how differences in educational attainment result in differential patterns of biological risk for a wide range of poor health outcomes. The proposed research will investigate cumulative biological risk profiles that underlie educational differences in rates of disease, disability, and death. Biological risk is conceptualized in this work as a summary of dysregulation and risk across a number of indicators including cardiovascular functioning, metabolic functioning, the inflammatory system, organ system dysfunction, and levels of vitamins and antioxidants. In addition to education, these biological risk factors will be related to a set of demographic, social, behavioral, psychological, health care availability and economic indicators to better understand the sources of observed education-related differences in biological risk profiles. The biological factors will also be included as independent variables in models predicting health outcomes to understand their mediating role between education and more downstream health outcomes. Use of the National Health Nutrition and Examination Surveys I, 11, ]II, and IV will allow examination of the relationships between educational attainment and biological risk and a variety of health outcomes for African Americans, Hispanic Americans (largely of Mexican origin), and Non-Hispanic Whites across all adult ages (20 and above) and across a period of time (from 1971 until 2002).
The specific aims of the project are to: l) Clarify the patterns of biological risk across a range of physiologic markers by educational attainment in order to identify the biological risk factors related to the """"""""earlier aging"""""""" of people with lower education. 2) Explore mechanisms which mediate education influences on biological risk. 3) Examine the links between education, biological risk, and health outcomes to determine the biological mechanisms that mediate the education/health relationship. 4) Examine changes over time in the patterning of biological risk by education.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG023347-04
Application #
7110157
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-SNEM-2 (50))
Program Officer
Patmios, Georgeanne E
Project Start
2003-09-30
Project End
2009-08-31
Budget Start
2006-09-01
Budget End
2009-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$352,779
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
072933393
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90089
Karlamangla, Arun S; Merkin, Sharon Stein; Crimmins, Eileen M et al. (2010) Socioeconomic and ethnic disparities in cardiovascular risk in the United States, 2001-2006. Ann Epidemiol 20:617-28
Seeman, Teresa E; Merkin, Sharon S; Crimmins, Eileen M et al. (2010) Disability trends among older Americans: National Health And Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1988-1994 and 1999-2004. Am J Public Health 100:100-7
Crimmins, Eileen M; Kim, Jung K; Seeman, Teresa E (2009) Poverty and biological risk: the earlier ""aging"" of the poor. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 64:286-92
Merkin, Sharon Stein; Karlamangla, Arun; Crimmins, Eileen et al. (2009) Education differentials by race and ethnicity in the diagnosis and management of hypercholesterolemia: a national sample of U.S. adults (NHANES 1999-2002). Int J Public Health 54:166-74
Merkin, Sharon Stein; Basurto-Dávila, Ricardo; Karlamangla, Arun et al. (2009) Neighborhoods and cumulative biological risk profiles by race/ethnicity in a national sample of U.S. adults: NHANES III. Ann Epidemiol 19:194-201
Seeman, Teresa; Merkin, Sharon S; Crimmins, Eileen et al. (2008) Education, income and ethnic differences in cumulative biological risk profiles in a national sample of US adults: NHANES III (1988-1994). Soc Sci Med 66:72-87
Lievre, Agnes; Alley, Dawn; Crimmins, Eileen M (2008) Educational differentials in life expectancy with cognitive impairment among the elderly in the United States. J Aging Health 20:456-77
Crimmins, Eileen M; Kim, Jung Ki; Alley, Dawn E et al. (2007) Hispanic paradox in biological risk profiles. Am J Public Health 97:1305-10
Kim, Jung Ki; Alley, Dawn; Hu, Peifeng et al. (2007) Changes in postmenopausal hormone therapy use since 1988. Womens Health Issues 17:338-41
Kim, Jung Ki; Alley, Dawn; Seeman, Teresa et al. (2006) Recent changes in cardiovascular risk factors among women and men. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 15:734-46

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