How older maternal age may affect children's heart health
Developmental Origins of Cardiovascular Disease in Offspring from Non-Human Primate Pregnancies at Advanced Maternal Age
This project looks at whether pregnancies in older mothers change heart and blood vessel health in their offspring using a closely related primate model.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173569 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are considering pregnancy at age 35 or older or were born to an older mother, this work uses a vervet monkey model that closely mirrors human pregnancy to learn about long-term heart risks for children. Researchers will take images and repeat blood and placental samples during and after pregnancy and will follow offspring over time to track heart structure and blood pressure. By controlling diet and environment in the colony, the team aims to separate the effects of maternal age from other factors. Findings could point to signs to watch for in children born to older parents.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who are pregnant at age 35 or older or adults who were born to mothers aged 35+ and want information about possible long-term heart risks are the main human groups this work is intended to inform.
Not a fit: Individuals whose mothers were younger than 35 or people seeking immediate treatment for established heart disease are unlikely to get direct benefit from this animal-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could clarify how older maternal age raises offspring cardiovascular risk and point to earlier monitoring or prevention strategies for those children.
How similar studies have performed: A few small human studies and rodent experiments have suggested links between older maternal age and higher offspring blood pressure or heart dysfunction, but evidence is limited and primate work is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cilvik, Sarah N — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Cilvik, Sarah N
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.