RF1AG077707

The Role of 24-Hour Activity Cycles in Preserving Cognitive Function and Preventing Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias - Abstract

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) are the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S and are prevalent in approximately 6 million U.S. adults. Without effective prevention strategies, ADRD prevalence is expected to triple by 2060. The lack of successful pharmacologic treatments for clinical ADRD necessitates a call-for-action to identify modifiable factors that preserve cognitive function and prevent ADRD.

Moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) has been identified as a key strategy that could have the greatest non-pharmacologic impact on the projected ADRD epidemic. However, MVPA corresponds to only a small portion of the 24-hour day (~2%). The other movement behaviors that comprise the remaining ~98% of the 24-hour day, including sedentary behavior (SB), light physical activity (LPA), and sleep, constitute additional modifiable considerations. Growing evidence suggests that the combined effects of these movement behaviors may be greater than their individual effects. Thus, focusing efforts on a single factor (e.g. MVPA) limits efficacy. Appropriate levels of MVPA, LPA, SB, and sleep may need to be achieved simultaneously (e.g. a "healthy 24-hours") for optimal resilience to adverse cognitive outcomes. Yet, little work has characterized the role of the 24-hour activity cycle to preserve cognition and prevent ADRD.

To address this critical research gap, we propose an ancillary study to the ongoing Reasons for Geographic and Racial Disparities in Stroke (REGARDS) study. The overall goal of this project is to characterize the temporal, bidirectional relationship between the 24-hour activity cycle and adverse cognitive outcomes. Specifically, we will test whether: 1) composition of the 24-hour activity cycle predicts change in cognitive function and incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, 2) cognitive function and prevalent MCI/dementia predict change in composition of the 24-hour activity cycle, and 3) change in the composition of the 24-hour activity cycle is associated with change in cognitive function and transitions in cognitive impairment status. We will also determine the most beneficial 24-hour activity cycle compositions associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment.

To address our aims, we will leverage the exceptional resources of REGARDS, including assessment of cognitive function at annual and biennial intervals, algorithmic classifications of MCI and dementia, and collection of objective measures of the waking components of the 24-hour activity cycle from 2009-2013. In this ancillary study, we propose to augment REGARDS with a 7-day accelerometer and sleep actigraphy protocol to objectively measure the 24-hour activity cycle (SB, LPA, MVPA, and sleep). By elucidating the temporal, bidirectional relationship between the 24-hour activity cycle and cognitive function and identifying beneficial 24-hour activity cycle compositions, this project will address existing evidence gaps and provide empirical evidence to accelerate a paradigm shift towards an integrated model that incorporates all 24-hour movement behaviors to optimize cognitive health.

The Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York

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]

New York United States

State-Wide

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

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 05/31/25 to 08/31/25.