# Effects of lifecourse traumatic stress on late-life cognitive decline, dementia, and neuroimaging biomarkers

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2024 · $248,980

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Up to half of Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) cases are due to
potentially modifiable exposures, including psychosocial factors. Exposure to traumatic events over the
lifecourse is pervasive, particularly in groups that experience disproportionately high burden of AD/ADRD. Stress
sensitization models suggest that trauma exposure, especially in early life, can result in brain changes and
increase vulnerability to psychopathology. However, stress sensitization models have not been extended to late-
life neurological outcomes and very little research exists on effects of lifecourse traumatic stress exposure on
AD/ADRD risk. The scientific objective of this research plan is to understand effects of traumatic stress on
cognition and neuroimaging in late life and to identify factors that modify these effects, including late-life
contributors to resilience. Using state-of-the art statistical methods, the research will: (1) estimate the effect of
traumatic stress over the lifecourse on late-life cognitive decline, dementia, and neuroimaging biomarkers of
AD/ADRD, (2) identify individual characteristics and early-life factors (e.g. sex/gender, race/ethnicity, education)
that modify the impact of lifecourse traumatic stress on late-life cognitive decline and dementia, (3) test the stress
sensitization model to determine if childhood trauma and adversity modifies the effect of adulthood traumatic
stress on late-life cognitive decline and dementia, and (4) identify late-life resilience factors (e.g. social
support/integration, financial security, physical activity) that mitigate the impact of lifecourse traumatic stress on
late-life cognitive decline and dementia. The proposed data work uses data from the US nationally-representative
Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and pooled data from two newly available, harmonized, and diverse cohorts
with robust neurocognitive assessments (Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences [KHANDLE] and
Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans [STAR]). The research addresses the NIA strategic research
directions related to understanding effects of personal, interpersonal, and societal factors on aging and
disparities in aging. Understanding the impact of lifecourse traumatic stress, including effect modifiers and late-
life resilience factors, will improve understanding of determinants of AD/ADRD and inform actionable strategies
to prevent AD/ADRD and reduce AD/ADRD disparities. This research plan is complemented by a training plan
that builds on the applicant’s background in epidemiology and biostatistics and includes new training to (1) gain
strong foundational knowledge in the science and methods of brain and cognitive aging research; (2) develop
expertise in the study of trauma and traumatic stress and their impact on brain health, and (3) gain skills in
machine learning approaches for causal inference and identifying heterogeneous treatment effects...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11131349
- **Project number:** 4R00AG075317-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Eleanor Louise Hayes-Larson
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $248,980
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2022-08-04 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11131349

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11131349, Effects of lifecourse traumatic stress on late-life cognitive decline, dementia, and neuroimaging biomarkers (4R00AG075317-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11131349. Licensed CC0.

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