R01HL161012

Leveraging omics data to understand sleep health and its consequences among diverse Hispanics/Latinos - Project Summary

Hispanics/Latinos are the fastest growing demographic group in the U.S., expected to comprise 24% of the US population by 2060. Latinos experience high rates of health disparities, including a high burden of diabetes mellitus (DM), uncontrolled hypertension (HTN), obesity, and Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementias.

The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) is a longitudinal cohort study established in 2004, following ~16,500 US Latinos from four geographic areas and multiple Latino backgrounds (Mexican, South American, Central American, Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican). We oversaw the collection and analysis of sleep measures during the HCHS/SOL baseline exam.

Along with our colleagues, we identified a high prevalence of sleep disorders which varied by social and behavioral factors and Latino background, and were associated with incident DM, HTN, and cognitive decline and impairment.

This project will apply integrative and multi-disciplinary research methods to study biological mechanisms that result in the sleep-related risk of DM, HTN, and cognitive decline across diverse Latinos.

First, we will identify methylation and metabolomics measures associated with sleep phenotypes and characterize them biologically. We further identify a subset of these omics measures that are linked to modifiable lifestyle and sociocultural measures.

Second, we will develop metabolomics and methylation biomarkers of sleep by combining information across multiple markers. We will study the association of such biomarkers with incident outcomes (DM, HTN, cognitive decline and impairment).

Third, we will estimate the effect of sleep phenotypes on modifying genetic risks for DM, HTN, and cognitive outcomes using a gene-by-sleep interaction analysis with polygenic risk scores for each outcome. We will also perform multi-omics analyses synthesizing multiple omics measures to understand biological pathways.

Finally, we will apply causal analysis to quantify the potential reduction in risks of incident DM, HTN, and cognitive decline and impairment following potential intervention on sleep phenotypes, under the assumption that metabolomics and genetic pathways can be blocked. We will estimate these effects in aggregate and across Latino backgrounds.

Our work will lead to the development of public health interventions at the community (e.g., in Latinos of Mexican origin) and patient-level by identifying individuals (e.g., based on specific genetic or metabolomic profiles) who would benefit most from improving their sleep.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

NOT APPLICABLE

93.837 - Cardiovascular Diseases Research

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) [HHS - NIH]

Boston, Massachusetts 022155400 United States

Single Zip Code

NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-20-185)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 330% from $737,631 to $3,172,240.