In exciting news, over the last few months, Dr. Yaffe's research team has been awarded four new grants to support work at the forefront of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) research. These innovative projects, an NIA R01, NIA U01, and two Department of Defense (DoD) grants, include the following:
Hypertension, Blood Pressure Targets, and Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Risk and Disparities among Nationally Representative US Veterans (NIA R01 AG085481; PI: Yaffe/Zeki Al Hazzouri/Calonico): Leveraging nationally representative data from the VA Healthcare System, this study seeks to provide new insights on the association between hypertension and ADRD risk by examining the influence of race/ethnicity, geographic region, and military-related exposures (TBI, PTSD) on this relationship. Dr. Yaffe's team will also estimate hypertension treatment effects at various treatment targets for reduction in ADRD risk. This investigation into key modifiable risk factors and subgroups of race/ethnicity and region will have significant implications for ADRD prevention.
Early mid-life environmental toxicant exposures and AD/ADRD risk in CARDIA (NIA U01 AG088658; PI: Yaffe/Chen/Hou/Jones): Utilizing extensive, longitudinal data from the CARDIA Study, this study aims to uncover the long-term effects of early exposure to environmental toxicants on the development of ADRD. It will employ advanced techniques in exposomic, genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic data analyses and incorporate social determinants of health, to provide a comprehensive view of the biological impact of toxicants and understand their role in cognitive decline and changes in brain structure.
ADRD Risk and Resilience among American Indian and Alaskan Natives: Implications for Prevention (DOD HT9425-24-1-0289; PI: Yaffe): American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) older adults are understudied when it comes to ADRD research. This project will assemble a new, U.S. nationally representative cohort of older American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) Veterans to determine key medical, social determinants of health, psychiatric, and military-related risk and resilience factors for dementia among older AI/AN veterans.
TBI Activation and Rehabilitation in Veterans (TRAIN-Vets) (DOD HT9425-24-1-0720; PI: Yaffe): This randomized clinical trial, in collaboration with the Palo Alto VA, will evaluate the impact of a multidomain training program on improving cognitive function in older adults with traumatic brain injury and subjective cognitive complaints. This study aims to inform clinical guidelines and treatment recommendations for older adults with cognitive impairment.
Through these diverse and innovative studies, Dr. Yaffe’s team will continue their groundbreaking work in the field of ADRD risk/resilience as well as highlight populations that lack representation within the field.