# Administrative Supplement to Cognitive Resilience among Older Samoans

> **NIH NIH R01** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $354,421

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 This proposed administrative supplement to collect new biomarkers could increase the scientific
knowledge related to cognitive resilience gained from our current NIA-funded R01 entitled, “Cognitive
Resilience among Older Samoans.” This supplement builds on recent developments that were unforeseen
when we submitted the parent R01: (1) it was discovered that a genetic variant associated with longer telomere
length (rs28372734) appears more than twice as frequently among Samoans than any other population
studied; and (2) we found that our parent grant’s genetic predictor, the Pacific-Islander-specific gene variant
CREBRF (rs373863828) predicts lower perceived stress in our parent R01 sample. As longer telomere length
and lower stress are associated with cognitive resilience, assessing the telomere-length gene variant and
stress biomarkers will allow us to determine whether these factors contribute to the mechanism by which
Samoan older individuals achieve cognitive resilience. The 2 stress biomarkers that represent 2 pathways
through which lower stress can benefit brain health are: (1) lower chronic inflammation, as indicated by lower
CRP levels; and (2) better T-cell functioning, as indicated by lower Epstein Bar Virus (EBV) antibody levels.
 Thus, leveraging the strong infrastructure and enrolled sample of 600 older Samoan persons that we
are following over 3 years in our parent R01, our supplement’s specific aims are to examine for the first time
whether: (1) the telomere-length gene variant predicts cognitive resilience; (2) lower inflammation (as indicated
by lower CRP levels) mediates the parent R01’s predictors’ (the CREBRF variant and Samoan positive age
beliefs) association with cognitive resilience; and (3) adaptive T-cell function (as indicated by lower EBV
antibody levels) mediates the association of the parent R01’s predictors with cognitive resilience.
 This proposed supplement addresses the goals of the 2022 National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s
Disease3 which points out that because there are no interventions known to definitely prevent, treat or cure
ADRD, there is a need to identify “the genetic underpinning of ADRD” and “the role of immunity and
inflammation,” which can be impacted by stress. Further, by studying these factors in older Samoans in the US
and Independent Samoa, we would contribute to NIA’s goals of increasing the study of cognitive resilience
among racial and ethnic minorities in the US as well as individuals in low- and middle-income countries.
 By focusing on older Samoans, a group which has unique genetic and cultural qualities, this
supplement could identify a new biological causal pathway to cognitive resilience that is likely to lead to future
interventions for benefitting the Samoan community as well as all older persons.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10773593
- **Project number:** 3R01AG067533-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** BECCA R LEVY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $354,421
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-03-01 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10773593

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10773593, Administrative Supplement to Cognitive Resilience among Older Samoans (3R01AG067533-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10773593. Licensed CC0.

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