# Risk Factors for Future Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease in Older African Americans

> **NIH NIH R01** · RUTGERS THE STATE UNIV OF NJ NEWARK · 2022 · $344,506

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 We seek to compare genetic/lifestyle interactions between African Americans and Nigerian Yoruba,
using novel cognitive assessments of generalization developed at Rutgers, while linking individual differences
in cognitive function on these tasks to variations in candidate genes. A majority of African American
descendants of slaves have their ancestry (and hence, genetic variations) linked to the Yoruba people of West
Africa. Understanding the similarities and differences in the interactions between genetic and lifestyle
variations influencing MTL-specific cognition in older African Americans and older Yoruba will further illuminate
complex determinants of AD risk and progression.
 This one year administrative supplement seeks to cross-validate current findings on risks of Alzheimer’s
disease (AD) in African Americans with a different but similar and related population cohort—Yoruba people of
West Africa by addressing a key question: Are African Americans and Yoruba people similar in their behavioral
and neural risk markers for AD, specifically with regard to interactions between genetics (especially APOE and
ABCA7) and modifiable health and lifestyle factors, especially physical fitness.
 With this supplemental funding we will expand the parent grant methods to collect blood from (a) 120
cognitively-healthy (non-demented) Yoruba, ages 60 and above, recruited at the University of Ibadan, and (b)
compare genetic/lifestyle interactions between African Americans and Nigerian Yoruba, using novel cognitive
assessments developed at Rutgers. The initial cross-sectional analysis will compare genetic/lifestyle
interactions between African Americans and Nigerian Yoruba, using novel cognitive assessments of
generalization developed at Rutgers, while linking individual differences in cognitive function on these tasks to
variations in candidate genes. This will lead up to the longitudinal analysis (R01) assessing broader root
causes of the high rates of cognitive decline and AD progression in older people of African ancestry.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10516954
- **Project number:** 3R01AG053961-05S2
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS THE STATE UNIV OF NJ NEWARK
- **Principal Investigator:** MARK A GLUCK
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $344,506
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-05-15 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10516954

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10516954, Risk Factors for Future Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease in Older African Americans (3R01AG053961-05S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10516954. Licensed CC0.

---

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