The University of Pittsburgh received a $794,978 Project Grant award from the National Institute on Aging (CFDA 93.866 - Aging Research) to conduct a longitudinal study examining the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage, accelerated epigenetic aging, and cognitive decline in middle-aged adults. The 5-year project, beginning April 1, 2025, aims to leverage existing data from the Adult Health and Behavior Project to investigate how individual- and community-level socioeconomic factors across the lifespan impact epigenetic age and neuropsychological function over a 10-16 year period. Key research objectives include testing lifespan models to determine the timing of socioeconomic effects on cognition, and evaluating accelerated epigenetic aging as a biological mechanism linking socioeconomic disadvantage to cognitive decline in midlife. The findings are expected to provide insights that enhance the timing and targeting of prevention and intervention strategies addressing socioeconomic disparities in age-related cognitive health.
Generated 3/25/25, 4:18 AM