# DNA Methylation, Genetics, and Modifiable Risk Factors of Dementia in a Nationally Representative, Multi-Ethnic Cohort - Diversity Supplement

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2021 · $20,921

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACT
 In the US, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) disproportionally affect marginalized racial
and ethnic groups, after accounting for healthcare utilization and other major risk factors. Epigenetic measures,
such as DNA methylation, hold great promise as indicators of adverse changes at a molecular level resulting
from contextual effects, potentially identifying health disparities long before the health outcomes are
observable. DNA methylation is a powerful tool to locate the sources and consequences of inequalities, further
revealing the complex web of factors (e.g. biological, social-contextual) that drive health disparities. Using
epigenetic and genetic data, well-characterized dementia phenotypes, and diverse risk factor data, the grant
analyzes a population representative, multi-ethnic aging sample from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).
 Taking advantage of Mr. Higgins Tejera’s expertise in biostatistics applied in a large, diverse cohort, he
proposes to use the analytic framework of the parent grant to expand to deeply investigate the role of
inflammatory biomarkers in dementia. The first aim of his expansion will estimate the prospective associations
between markers of inflammation (e.g., hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha, Cysteine-C) and incident dementia using
longitudinal regression analyses. The second aim proposes a Mendelian randomization analysis of the causal
effect of systemic inflammation on incident dementia. The third aim tests whether the relationship between
systemic inflammation and dementia is mediated by DNA methylation. To determine whether race/ethnicity
modifies these relationships, race/ethnicity-dependent relationships will be explored in all aims. This diversity
supplement will expand our understanding of the roles of systemic inflammation and DNA methylation, two
important ways that social inequality may be biologically embedded, on dementia risk.
 Mr. Higgins Tejera’s career goal is to be an independent researcher studying disparities and
neuropsychiatric disorders at an academic institute. To support his career development, during this grant
period he will receive training on: 1) advanced statistical analyses and results interpretation, including repeated
measures and mediation analyses, 2) epidemiologic causal methods through the application of Mendelian
randomization for inferring causal relationships, 3) biological and social-contextual factors underlying health
disparities, 4) research communication through peer review and academic conferences, 5) faculty development
and leadership. Training in these areas will prepare Mr. Higgins Tejera for an impactful research career.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10282339
- **Project number:** 3R01AG067592-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Kelly Bakulski
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $20,921
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-05-15 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10282339

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10282339, DNA Methylation, Genetics, and Modifiable Risk Factors of Dementia in a Nationally Representative, Multi-Ethnic Cohort - Diversity Supplement (3R01AG067592-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-08-17 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10282339. Licensed CC0.

---

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