Exploring how socioeconomic status affects brain aging and health in older adults
Official title: Multidimensional Features of Socioeconomic Status, Brain Age, and the Potential Mediating Role of Cardiometabolic Health Among Mid and Late Life Adults
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10998322 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how things like income and education can affect brain health as we get older, especially in relation to dementia and heart-related issues, and it’s for adults in their middle and later years who want to understand how their background might influence their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F31AG090048-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10998322 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are mid and late life adults who may be experiencing cognitive decline or are at risk for dementia and have varying socioeconomic backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 21 years old or do not have concerns related to dementia or cardiometabolic health may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and brain aging in mid and late life adults, focusing on how factors like income and education may influence the risk of dementia and cardiometabolic diseases. By utilizing advanced machine learning techniques, the study aims to identify specific dimensions of SES that contribute to accelerated brain aging. The research will also explore how these relationships vary across different age groups, providing a more nuanced understanding of the impact of SES on health outcomes. Participants may be asked to provide information about their socioeconomic background and health status to help uncover these connections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for addressing health disparities related to dementia and cardiometabolic diseases in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: While some studies have explored the relationship between socioeconomic status and health outcomes, this research aims to provide a novel and comprehensive approach by examining multiple dimensions of SES and their impact on brain aging.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Drake, Jermon — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Drake, Jermon
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.