R01AG072475

Unraveling the Intersection of Synaptic Biology, Lifestyle, and Cognitive Resilience - Project Summary / Abstract

Brain pathology begins accumulating in early adulthood and is detectable in almost all brains by older age. Yet, there is remarkable heterogeneity in cognitive aging, and most aged adults do not evidence cognitive impairment or dementia. Uncovering the naturally occurring processes that support this cognitive resilience to neuropathology burden may yield potent targets to prevent or slow Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).

We hypothesize that maintained synaptic integrity and physical activity may represent two such protective factors. Synaptic communication is the foundational underpinning of cognition. Increasing data suggest that preserved synaptic integrity may support clinical functioning regardless of pathology presence or etiology. Further, physical activity is a highly implicated resilience behavior that has also been linked to synaptic maintenance in animals.

Our goal is to determine the synaptic biology that may underlie cognitive resilience and physical activity in humans. We will collaborate across two ADRC programs to leverage their unique strengths. In the Rush Memory and Aging Project (R-MAP), brain tissue samples from autopsied adults followed in life will be used to quantify >150 synaptic protein markers (N=869). In the UCSF Memory and Aging Center (UC-MAC), cerebrospinal fluid samples from longitudinally followed living older adults will be used to quantify seven synaptic protein markers (N=200). Both cohorts complete longitudinal actigraphy monitoring as an index of physical activity levels, and comprehensive neurobehavioral assessments.

Cognitive resilience will be operationalized as the discrepancy between neuropathology markers and cognitive performances. Aim one will identify the in-depth synaptic networks (R-MAP) and the longitudinal, dynamic nature (UC-MAC) between synaptic markers and cognitive resilience. Aim two will apply innovative machine learning techniques to identify precise actigraphy features that most robustly relate to in-depth synaptic networks (R-MAP), longitudinal synaptic marker changes (UC-MAC), and cognitive resilience (both).

Accomplishing these aims will significantly impact the ADRD field. We are designed to carefully identify synaptic and exercise features that support sustained cognitive resilience using cutting-edge measurement technologies, analytics, and exceptional collaborative expertise. This proposal represents a bridging between two national ADRCs to more powerfully address high-impact questions than could be answered by either individually.

San Francisco Regents Of The University Of California

TO ENCOURAGE BIOMEDICAL, SOCIAL, AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING DIRECTED TOWARD GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE AGING PROCESS AND THE DISEASES, SPECIAL PROBLEMS, AND NEEDS OF PEOPLE AS THEY AGE. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING HAS ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS TO PURSUE THESE GOALS. THE DIVISION OF AGING BIOLOGY EMPHASIZES UNDERSTANDING THE BASIC BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF AGING. THE DIVISION OF GERIATRICS AND CLINICAL GERONTOLOGY SUPPORTS RESEARCH TO IMPROVE THE ABILITIES OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS TO RESPOND TO THE DISEASES AND OTHER CLINICAL PROBLEMS OF OLDER PEOPLE. THE DIVISION OF BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL RESEARCH SUPPORTS RESEARCH THAT WILL LEAD TO GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT BOTH THE PROCESS OF GROWING OLD AND THE PLACE OF OLDER PEOPLE IN SOCIETY. THE DIVISION OF NEUROSCIENCE FOSTERS RESEARCH CONCERNED WITH THE AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE RELATED SENSORY, PERCEPTUAL, AND COGNITIVE PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH AGING AND HAS A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SBIR PROGRAM, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.866 - Aging Research

National Institute on Aging (NIA) [HHS - NIH]

San Francisco, California 94143 United States

Single Zip Code

Research on Current Topics in Alzheimer's Disease and Its Related Dementias (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-19-070)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 384% from $892,644 to $4,318,698.