# Neuropsychological Profile and Neurocognitive Biomarkers of Attention and Memory in Trauma-Exposed Responders at Risk of Premature Cognitive Decline

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC · 2024 · $599,716

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Direct trauma exposure is associated with negative physical and mental health consequences, including an
increased risk of rapid decline of cognitive function, which may start early in midlife. Moreover, additional life
traumas such as COVID-19, as well as chronic illnesses, have also been shown to accelerate cognitive aging.
During the World Trade Center terror attack and its aftermath, tens of thousands of traditional first responders
and other cleanup and recovery workers were exposed to the emotional trauma and to environmental
toxicants, and they had high rates of subsequent physical and psychiatric disorders. The time to detect
cognitive decline is before the onset of more obvious symptoms, so that the underlying neurodegeneration
may be delayed or lessened. To evaluate the risk of cognitive decline, we will use remote web-based
neuropsychological tasks to assess core cognitive functioning among the youngest first responders (N=1,200)
in two waves, 40 months apart. The different levels of trauma exposure, and consequent physical and mental
outcomes, which have been well documented, may imply different levels of premature cognitive decline risk
among the responders which will be considered in our experimental design and analytical models. We plan to
recruit first responders who received health services through the WTC Health Program, a majority of whom
were police and non-traditional rescue, recovery and cleanup workers, and compare the risk of cognitive
decline between these groups. In addition, a sub-group of responders and additional community controls
(N=120) will participate in a neurocognitive study using EEG and MRI to elucidate the neurobiological
mechanisms associate with premature cognitive decline. Specifically, we will include core cognitive tasks
(attention and episodic memory) to determine the neuronal underpinnings of early cognitive changes and will
obtain measures of brain morphology and connectivity. This study will generate scientifically robust information
to guide clinical and public health actions focused on premature cognitive decline among the youngest
responders. A better understanding of premature cognitive decline and of the most important pathways
causing such decline has the potential to improve interventions that can reduce premature cognitive decline in
this and other cohorts.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10844335
- **Project number:** 5U01OH012272-04
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC
- **Principal Investigator:** YAEL M CYCOWICZ
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $599,716
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10844335

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10844335, Neuropsychological Profile and Neurocognitive Biomarkers of Attention and Memory in Trauma-Exposed Responders at Risk of Premature Cognitive Decline (5U01OH012272-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10844335. Licensed CC0.

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