How childhood heart health may affect biological aging and Alzheimer's-related brain changes
Early Life Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, Epigenetic Age Acceleration, and Alzheimer's Disease Related Brain Health
This project looks at whether heart risk factors from childhood speed up biological aging and relate to memory and brain changes linked to Alzheimer's in middle-aged adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11266149 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of research that links long-term heart-health records from childhood with tests done in midlife. Researchers will measure DNA methylation in blood to calculate 'epigenetic age' and compare it to your actual age. They will also collect cognitive test results and Alzheimer's-related brain measures (such as imaging or biomarkers) when available. The team will analyze whether faster biological aging helps explain how early heart risk leads to midlife brain changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (often middle-aged) who can provide blood samples, take cognitive tests, and share childhood or lifelong heart-health information or be part of a long-term cohort.
Not a fit: People with advanced Alzheimer's disease or those seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this observational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify early-life heart-health targets that, when addressed, might reduce biological aging and lower Alzheimer's risk later on.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked accelerated epigenetic aging to worse cognition and cardiovascular risk, but using these markers to connect childhood heart health to midlife Alzheimer's-related brain changes is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kelly, Tanika Nicole — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Kelly, Tanika Nicole
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 below.