# Genetic Epidemiology of Caffeine and Cognitive Decline

> **NIH NIH K01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $102,200

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Age-associated cognitive decline is an important human condition that varies in extent among individuals.
This variation likely arises from a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Caffeine is the most
commonly ingested behaviorally active substance in the world, and a growing body of literature points to the
premise that caffeine may provide a safe, effective, readily available, and inexpensive therapeutic agent
against cognitive decline. However, factors that contribute to variation in caffeine metabolism may interact with
caffeine intake and modify its association with cognitive decline. Furthermore, caffeine targets genes and
pathways potentially impacting cognitive decline and thus an opportunity to advancing our understanding of
this condition may be missed if variation in caffeine metabolism is left unaccounted for.
Dr. Cornelis proposes a training and research plan that will contribute to her goal to become an independent
investigator of systems epidemiology of nutrition and cognitive decline. To acquire training in i) cognitive
function assessment ii) epidemiology of cognitive decline and iii) neuropathological aspects of cognitive decline
and Alzheimer's disease, she will work closely with a team of internationally recognized mentors from two
highly reputable institutes committed to aging research and engage in training activities including coursework,
one-on-one and small group sessions, seminars and conferences, observation and hands-on practicum
including a pilot study of caffeine and brain DNA methylation.
She will apply her training to the first comprehensive and highly efficient analysis of the joint effects of genetics
and caffeine on cognitive decline. Composite indices of caffeine metabolic rate and caffeine exposure will be
used in an epidemiological meta-analytical framework to examine genecaffeine intake interactions and
cognitive decline and to discover novel loci for this condition by modeling SNPcaffeine exposure interactions
on a genome-wide scale.
Dr. Cornelis's research will provide critical insights into the role that caffeine potentially plays in slowing
cognitive decline and has potential to uncover novel biological pathways underlying this condition. Results of
this work should foster new lines of investigation for cognitive impairment and for developing novel behavioral
and pharmacological avenues for safe and effective treatment and prevention. Moreover, the experience and
knowledge obtained from the completion of Dr. Cornelis's training and research plan will allow her to obtain
R01 funding to acquire additional systems-level data for a more detailed mechanistic view of how caffeine or
other dietary factors impact cognitive decline.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10146792
- **Project number:** 3K01AG053477-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Marilyn C Cornelis
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $102,200
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2016-09-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10146792

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10146792, Genetic Epidemiology of Caffeine and Cognitive Decline (3K01AG053477-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10146792. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*