Jennifer A. Deal is an epidemiologist and gerontologist, with a position as Assistant Scientist in the Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Medicine and a secondary appointment in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She seeks a mentored career development award to fill knowledge gaps in her current training so that her research can successfully bridge the diverse fields of cognitive aging, audiology, otolaryngology, epidemiology and cognitive neuroscience in order to improve the health of older adults. The primary component of the training proposal includes a comprehensive five-year plan of formal and informal instruction in the acquisition, processing and analysis of neuroimaging data (structural MRI and PiB PET) in large population-based studies. The PI will also augment current knowledge about the collection and analysis of hearing data in epidemiologic studies with additional training in the clinical aspects and pathophysiology of hearing impairment. The training program consists of didactic coursework and seminars, clinic observations, and mentored research by an established and diverse team of experts. Short-term career goals include completion and dissemination of high-quality mentored research through publications and presentations and application for independent R01 funding beginning in the fourth year of the award period. Long-term career goals are to be an independent investigator in the area of aging and cognitive decline and dementia, with expertise in hearing impairment.
The specific aims of the proposed research are to quantify the independent association of HI incident dementia and with domain-specific cognitive decline in three well-characterized prospective observational studies, to investigate the relationship of HI with changes in brain volume over time (both in regions related to Alzheimer's disease and to auditory processing), and to quantify the role of vascular factors in the development of HI. Completion of the proposed aims will elucidate the role and mechanism of hearing impairment in dementia and domain-specific cognitive decline, providing possible targets for future clinical research with the potential to inform efforts to prevent these adverse outcomes in older adults.

Public Health Relevance

Interventions to prevent or postpone dementia and cognitive decline in older adults are urgently needed. Hearing impairment is highly prevalent, treatable, and may be a ?second hit? on the brain (additional to AD and vascular processes) that contributes to dementia and cognitive decline. The proposed study will elucidate the role and mechanism of hearing impairment in dementia and domain-specific cognitive decline, providing possible targets for future clinical research with the potential to inform efforts to prevent these adverse outcomes in older adults.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01AG054693-03
Application #
9697734
Study Section
Neuroscience of Aging Review Committee (NIA)
Program Officer
St Hillaire-Clarke, Coryse
Project Start
2017-08-15
Project End
2022-05-31
Budget Start
2019-07-15
Budget End
2020-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21205
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 :
Deal, Jennifer A; Sharrett, A Richey; Albert, Marilyn et al. (2018) Retinal signs and risk of incident dementia in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. Alzheimers Dement :
Deal, Jennifer A; Sharrett, A Richey; Rawlings, Andreea M et al. (2018) Retinal signs and 20-year cognitive decline in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Neurology 90:e1158-e1166
Reed, Nicholas S; Betz, Joshua F; Kucharska-Newton, Anna M et al. (2018) Hearing loss and satisfaction with healthcare: An unexplored relationship. J Am Geriatr Soc :
Deal, Jennifer A; Lin, Frank R (2018) Response to Letter From Fuller-Thomson ""Might Lifetime Exposure to Lead Confound the Association between Hearing Impairment and Incident Dementia?"" J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 73:993-994