Early Vascular Contributions to Dementia Risk in African-Americans

AG050782

The aims of this study are highly relevant for public health because we will delineate the long-term impact of lifecourse experience, and vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and brain pathology in African American individuals whom at a population level are at higher risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Findings will inform whether early life exposures, lifecourse social context, midlife vascular risk, and an increased burden of vascular comorbidities impacts cognitive decline, brain atrophy and brain vascular pathology. Results will directly benefit a vulnerable and understudied population which bears a tremendous burden of cognitive decline and at the same time is rapidly increasing. Results will have direct implications for potential prevention of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease in the African American population.