# Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias and Cognitive Impairment

> **NIH NIH P01** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · 2020 · $163,501

## Abstract

Project 1 Abstract
 The burden of age-related dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD),
remains understudied in much of Africa, with a few notable exceptions.1-4 By 2040, an estimated 70% of the 80
million people with dementia globally will reside in low and middle income countries.5 Dementia is a particular
issue for these countries, such as South Africa, where life expectancies are expected to rise dramatically.6-9 7-9
Within virtually all countries, cognitive decline has shown strong disparities with household income and
educational attainment.10, 11 South Africa is no exception and the associations with low levels of education and
lifelong disadvantage are substantial. Our long-term goal is to understand the epidemiologic patterns and
projected public health burden of ADRD in South Africa, as well as to identify factors that either reduce
or increase ADRD risk. With this renewal application for the Health and Aging in Africa: Longitudinal Studies
of an INDEPTH Community (HAALSI) Program, we propose to take a major step towards this goal by
conducting longitudinal cognitive and dementia-related assessments in HAALSI , a population-based
community cohort of adults ≥40 years of age. Project 1 is integrated with Projects 2 (Cardiometabolic Disease)
and 3 (HIV) to optimize goals. We have cognitive measures harmonized with the Health and Retirement Study
and sister studies for the HAALSI cohort of 5,059 adults ≥40 years of age. We propose the following aims:
AIM 1: Obtain information on the incidence and prevalence of ADRD as well as mild cognitive
impairment (MCI). By year 05, we will have three cognitive assessments over three waves with six years of
longitudinal information on cognitive function, mortality follow-up and clinical and informant assessments.
These data will permit us to (1A) identify rates of all-cause dementia and MCI; and (1B) evaluate impacts of
vascular conditions and HIV on all-cause dementia and MCI and calculate attributable risk. To accomplish this,
we will use information from our neuropsychological batteries, clinical examination, and biomarkers of risk
related to HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and vascular disorders.
AIM 2: Identify social and economic risk and resilience factors affecting cognitive decline and ADRD.
We hypothesize that educational attainment and social networks help older adults maintain high cognitive
functioning as they age (cognitive reserve).12-16 We determine whether social engagement drawn from network
structures protects against decline.12, 17-24 We examine moderating conditions related to gender and age.
AIM 3: Evaluate associations of Apoliprotein E (APOE) and markers of biological aging related to
telomeres with cognitive decline and ADRD. In a subsample of 2,000 we will investigate the role of these
genetic markers and ADRD and identify risks and interactions with educational attainment and ADRD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9950987
- **Project number:** 5P01AG041710-07
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** LISA F BERKMAN
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $163,501
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9950987

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9950987, Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias and Cognitive Impairment (5P01AG041710-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9950987. Licensed CC0.

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