2023 Alzheimer's Association Research Fellowship (AARF)
Pathways Linking Neighborhood and Behavioral Factors to the Risk of ADRD
How might certain behaviors and community characteristics protect against Alzheimer’s?
Jinshil Hyun, Ph.D.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, NY - United States
Background
New research suggests some risk factors for Alzheimer’s are modifiable. Individuals may be able to delay or slow disease progression by modifying factors such as physical activity or social interaction. Older individuals may also experience natural changes in risk factors, such as an increase in sedentary behavior, though it is not clear exactly how this might influence Alzheimer’s progression. It is also unclear exactly how these factors are shaped by an individuals environment to influence their risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Research Plan
Dr. Jinshil Hyun will investigate connections between an individual’s cognition, their social behavior, and their neighborhood environment. To do this, Dr. Hyun will utilize data from the Einstein Aging Study, which uses smartphone-based tests to measure an individual's cognition along with conventional clinic-based measurements, such as blood tests and brain scans. Dr. Hyun will also utilize digital wristbands that track an individual’s physical activity and sedentary behavior. Individuals will also complete surveys to share information about their social interactions and other behaviors.
Dr. Hyun’s team will look for connections between an individual’s neighborhood characteristics, such as the amount of green space or housing density, and any brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s. The team will also use GPS-based data to better understand how individuals in the study interact with their environment. Finally, Dr. Hyun’s team will use advanced statistical analyses to integrate the data and identify any link between an individual's environment and risk of Alzheimer’s.
Impact
This study could identify individual and community factors that might be protective against brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. It may also provide data to support interventions that are designed to help older individuals modify certain risk factors for Alzheimer’s.