# African AMERICANS Fighting Alzheimer's In Midlife

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2021 · $1,177,042

## Abstract

Recognizing that risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is multidimensional, the long-term goal of the AA-FAiM
project (African Americans Fighting Alzheimer's in Midlife) is to identify modifiable targets for midlife
intervention. Toward this, we will combine previously collected data and expand data collection in: (1) the
Wisconsin AD Research Center (ADRC) and (2) the R01-funded Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's
Prevention (WRAP) study for a total cross-sectional sample of ~500 subjects, age 45–65 at study entry.
Additionally, we will collect optional biomarker data from no less than 40% of the cohort (n~200). Because
biomarker data are a major focus of AD research, we will evaluate a recruitment and retention strategy for
biomarker participation. We will also examine the interplay of risk and resilience factors, predicting longitudinal
change in cognition. Our long-term goal is to build a unique cohort committed to the continued collection of
longitudinal cognitive and biomarker data. Hypotheses and Specific Aims are as follows:
 Cross-sectional Hypothesis: When well-established fixed predictors, including genetic risks and parental
history are held constant, preclinical AD pathology (inferred from disease markers) will be greater in cognitively
healthy, middle-aged African Americans with (1) high CVD burden (estimated with ASCVD score), (2) with low
self efficacy, social support, PiL, and an external LoC, (3) from disadvantaged neighborhoods, as measured
with an index of neighborhood disadvantage, and the Area Deprivation Index (ADI).4
 Aim 1: Examine the association of predictors listed above with an index of within subject variability, IICV.
 Aim 2: In a sub-set of AA-FAiM participants (~40% of cohort), examine the association of above predictors
with neuroimaging and CSF biomarkers: hippocampal volume (HV) and the ratio of CSF Aβ42/P-tau181.
 Exploratory Aim 2.1: Conduct qualitative analysis of interview data gathered from participants who
have participated in Biomarker substudies, as well as those who declined to participate, in order to explore
efficacy of a Research – Community – Clinical (RCC) model of research recruitment and retention.
 Exploratory Aim 2.2: Examine the cross-sectional association of the above predictors with a novel
neuroimaging outcome assessing cerebral blow flow: Phase Contrast – Vastly undersampled
Isotropic Projection (PC-VIPR).5
 Longitudinal Hypothesis: When well-established fixed predictors are held constant, longitudinal change in
preclinical AD pathology (inferred from a cognitive disease marker) will be greater in cognitively healthy,
middle-aged African Americans with a greater risk burden (described above).
 Aim 3: Examine the association of predictors listed above with rate of change in cognitive outcomes.
 Developmental Aim 3.1: Lay foundation for collection of longitudinal collection of neuroimaging and
CSF biomarkers, i.e., hippocampal volume loss (HVL); and rate of change in the ratio of CSF Aβ42/P-tau1...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10147618
- **Project number:** 5R01AG054059-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** CAREY E GLEASON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,177,042
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10147618

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10147618, African AMERICANS Fighting Alzheimer's In Midlife (5R01AG054059-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10147618. Licensed CC0.

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