Understanding how childhood heart health affects Alzheimer's risk in different communities
I3C DECADE: Disparities and Equity in Childhood Cardiovascular Exposures and Alzheimer's Dementia
This project explores how heart health in childhood, particularly for Black individuals, influences the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11125846 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are more common in Black communities. This difference might be linked to how quickly heart health issues, like obesity or high blood pressure, develop during childhood. Our project uses information collected over many years from Black and white men and women to see how these early heart health factors and life experiences, such as access to healthy food or quality education, affect brain health much later in life. We aim to understand how disadvantages faced in childhood can contribute to Alzheimer's pathology that may start silently in middle age.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research focuses on understanding health trajectories in Black and white individuals, particularly those whose health data has been collected since childhood.
Not a fit: Patients not represented in the existing long-term datasets being analyzed may not directly benefit from the specific findings of this particular data analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could help us understand how to prevent Alzheimer's disease by addressing heart health and social factors early in life, especially for communities most affected.
How similar studies have performed: While previous work has shown links between cardiovascular risk factors and brain health, this project uniquely leverages extensive life-course data to specifically address racial disparities in Alzheimer's risk.
Where this research is happening
New Orleans, United States
- Tulane University of Louisiana — New Orleans, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maclehose, Richard F — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Maclehose, Richard F
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.