# Lifespan Cardiovascular Risk Exposures and Alzheimer-related brain health: Bogalusa Heart Study

> **NIH NIH RF1** · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · 2022 · $233,466

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in midlife are recognized to influence later-life cognitive status. Results from
clinical trials have suggested that modifying CV risk factors in older adults may be a promising avenue to lower risk of late
life cognitive decline. Herein, we propose a supplement, within the scope of the parent grant 2RF1AG041200, entitled
‘Lifespan Cardiovascular Risk Exposures and Alzheimer-related brain health: Bogalusa Heart Study’ which aims to identify
modifiable risk factors shared by these conditions in a race- and sex-specific fashion, and determine the critical time
windows to prevent and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia syndromes (ADRD) and minimize
disparities. The parent grant will collect information on cognitive performance among 600 and neuroimaging of sub-clinical
brain injury 200 black and white men and women who participate in the Bogalusa Heart Study (BHS) in middle age. The
candidate Dr. De Anda-Duran, will leverage the data collected by the parent grant, by applying advanced analytical methods
that will distinguish life-course (childhood to midlife) trajectories of CV risk factors that impact brain function. This work
will expand on traditional neuropsychological (NP) approaches to characterize midlife cognitive performance by identifying
subclinical NP phenotypes that may be more susceptible to progression to ADRD. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a
pivotal stage often leading to progression to ADRD; however, accurate identification of this prodrome is challenging, and
inconsistencies might contribute to the neuropathological heterogeneity seen in ADRD. Adequate and timely
characterization of neurocognitive phenotypes that more likely progress to dementia, and/or resemble MCI, using data-
driven approaches can be a potential pathway to address disease burden and optimize patient eligibility for clinical trials
and risk reduction interventions. Data-driven approaches appear to be more precise in identifying and classifying individuals
based on distinct NP phenotypes linked with less ambiguous neuropathology. To this end, we propose to evaluate the
relationship between life-course exposure to CV risk factors and midlife NP phenotypes among black and white participants
from a semi-rural, community-based cohort of middle-aged adults located in Bogalusa, Louisiana. This work has important
clinical and public health implications. Early characterization of cognitive phenotypes may better identify groups prone to
progress to cognitive impairment syndromes and high-risk groups who may be more responsive to clinical interventions,
and benefit most from targeted prevention strategies. Moreover, the proposed supplement will provide the candidate, Dr.
De Anda-Duran, with the necessary period of protected time to gain the skills required to become and independently funded
researcher.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10561991
- **Project number:** 3RF1AG041200-06S2
- **Recipient organization:** TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- **Principal Investigator:** Lydia Bazzano
- **Activity code:** RF1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $233,466
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2012-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10561991

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10561991, Lifespan Cardiovascular Risk Exposures and Alzheimer-related brain health: Bogalusa Heart Study (3RF1AG041200-06S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10561991. Licensed CC0.

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