How long-term stress changes blood metabolites linked to Alzheimer's and other aging diseases
Metabolomic profile of chronic distress in relation to diseases of aging across diverse populations
This project looks at whether long-term anxiety and depression leave a fingerprint in blood metabolites that is tied to higher risk of heart disease and Alzheimer's in older adults from diverse backgrounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262811 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of work that measures hundreds of small molecules in blood using advanced lab tests to create a metabolite profile that reflects chronic distress (like ongoing anxiety and depression). The team will add new metabolites to their existing distress score, biochemically identify previously unknown molecules, and use modern statistical methods to strengthen the score. They will combine data from multiple long-running studies that include people from different racial and ethnic groups and link the metabolite patterns to later development of cardiometabolic disease and Alzheimer's-related dementia. This approach aims to clarify biological pathways from stress to aging diseases and find blood markers that could identify people at higher risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are older adults—especially those with a history of chronic anxiety or depression or with cardiometabolic conditions—who are enrolled in or eligible for the participating cohort studies, including people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Not a fit: People who are very young, have no history of chronic distress, or already have advanced dementia are unlikely to get direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify blood markers that help spot people at higher risk for Alzheimer's and heart disease so prevention or monitoring can start earlier.
How similar studies have performed: The investigators previously developed a distress-related metabolite score linked to higher cardiometabolic risk in mostly non-Hispanic White women, but validating and extending it across diverse populations is a new step.
Where this research is happening
Hadley, United States
- University of Massachusetts Amherst — Hadley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hankinson, Susan E — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Hankinson, Susan E
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.