Understanding how adversity affects aging and dementia risk in low-income countries
Official title: Adversity, Aging and ADRD Risk among the Global Poor: A Biosocial Lifecourse Approach
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10818613 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $3,122,505 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079527-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10818613 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 45 and older living in low-income countries, particularly those in Malawi.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 45 or those living in high-income countries may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kohler, Hans-Peter — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Kohler, Hans-Peter
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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.