# An Analysis of Psychosocial Risk and Protective Factors: Accelerated Cognitive Aging and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) Among Retired NFL & Former NCAA Football Players

> **NIH NIH K01** · GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $122,040

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
Robert W. Turner II is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Research and Leadership at George
Washington University (GW), and a Research Scientist in the Center on Health and Society at Duke University.
The current proposal is for a one-year administrative supplement to his Mentored Research Scientist
Development Award (1K01AG054762-01A1) from NIA for training and support that address gaps in his
knowledge of biobehavioral factors underlying Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) related to mild traumatic brain injury
(mTBI) and accelerated cognitive aging. As a result of unforeseen issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic,
Dr. Turner experienced significant disruption to his scientific and career development plan. In
collaboration with his mentors he has developed a comprehensive training and research plan that will both fill in
these knowledge gaps and prepare him for an independent research career. The overarching goal of his K01 is
to gain expertise on the interrelationships between multiple measures of psychosocial and neurocognitive factors
associated with AD dementia related to accelerated cognitive aging. To accomplish this goal, he proposes to
continue working on three career development activities and three research aims that combines instruction with
established scholars in survey research techniques; one-to-one individualized trainings with mentors; and finally,
conducting of a “proof of concept study” from start to finish. The three research aims will enable him to integrate
and apply knowledge gained through the proposed training activities by creating a more robust portrait of
psychosocial protective and risk factors that may impact the long-term consequences of mTBI among men than
previously possible. The approach used in this project will address; a) male vulnerabilities in predicting the impact
of psychosocial factors on accelerated cognitive aging and b) how understandings of masculinity develop across
and within groups in relationship to pain, injury, and brain health. By completing these aims, he will test important
hypotheses and make substantial evidence-based contributions to describing the process of dementia related
cognitive accelerated aging resulting from mTBI. This proposal is relevant to public health because it will explore
innovative approaches to address functional, cognitive, and psychosocial vulnerabilities in concussed men, and
may ultimately reduce the risk of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and Alzheimer’s disease resulting
from concussions. It will also inform an R-series grant proposal to study mTBI related accelerated cognitive aging
and brain imaging that Dr. Turner plans to submit in the final year of the project.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10600218
- **Project number:** 3K01AG054762-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert W. Turner
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $122,040
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-08-15 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10600218

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10600218, An Analysis of Psychosocial Risk and Protective Factors: Accelerated Cognitive Aging and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) Among Retired NFL & Former NCAA Football Players (3K01AG054762-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10600218. Licensed CC0.

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