Understanding how adversity affects aging and dementia risk in low-income countries

Adversity, Aging and ADRD Risk among the Global Poor: A Biosocial Lifecourse Approach

NIH-funded research University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10818613

This study is looking at how social and biological factors affect aging and the risk of Alzheimer's and related dementia in older adults in Malawi, aiming to understand what helps or harms their brain health as they age.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pennsylvania NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-10818613 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of social and biological factors on accelerated aging and the risk of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) among older adults in low-income countries. By collecting genomic and epigenomic data from individuals aged 45 and older in Malawi, the study aims to integrate over 25 years of existing social and health data with new biological measures. This comprehensive approach will help identify the risk and resilience factors that influence cognitive decline and overall health in these populations.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 45 and older living in low-income countries, particularly those in Malawi.

Not a fit: Patients who are younger than 45 or those living in high-income countries may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and interventions for aging and dementia in low-income settings.

How similar studies have performed: While research on aging and dementia has been conducted in high-income countries, this approach is novel as it specifically targets low-income countries, where such data is scarce.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.