Early Characterization of Cognitive Status and AD Risk in African American Men

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Although past studies done primarily on white Americans report that men have a higher risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and more rapid progression from MCI to AD, we do not know if this is also the case for African American men. Early characterization of cognitive status and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk in older African American men is a critical unmet challenge. There have been notably few dementia studies that included substantial numbers of older African American men. In particular, there is a paucity of neuroimaging data on older African American men in the years prior to, and during, cognitive decline to AD. We will utilize a cross- sectional study of older, urban African American men to characterize genetic, social, and environmental influences on the brain and neural markers indicative of cognitive status and AD risk. My training application will not only advance our understanding of neural changes and brain activity in older African American men, especially those exposed to conditions that put them at high risk for AD, but how their brain health relates to behavioral, genetic, neural, lifestyle, social, and environmental risk factors. Designed as a cross-sectional study, we will examine the neural pathways through which social and environmental factors impact cognition and identify individual variability that moderates their impact. Also, we will explore if social and environmental influences are mediated by their effect on risk genes to impact cognitive status and AD risk in older African American men. Understanding the mechanisms involved in brain health and AD risk in older African American men will improve our knowledge of how AD affects men, and which tailored interventions are most effective for mitigating AD risk and improving cognitive function in African American men. The development of tailored interventions is increasingly urgent given the increase in the number of African American older adults experiencing AD and the AD-associated burdens to the individuals, families, and communities.