Einstein Aging Study (EAS)
The Einstein Aging Study (EAS) is a longitudinal study of cognitive aging. Since 1980, the EAS team has examined both normal aging and challenges associated with aging, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. EAS is a noteworthy study because it constitutes a large and racially and economically-diverse group of older adults. Currently, there are over 600 participants in the study. The study involves intensive data collection (i.e., daily diaries delivered on electronic tablets) about daily experiences along with measures of HPA axis functioning (i.e., diurnal profiles of salivary cortisol); we are using these intensive measures to determine whether they predict cognitive decline in the longitudinal data from the main EAS project.
Effects of Stress on Cognitive Aging, Physiology, and Emotion (ESCAPE)
Effects of Stress on Cognition, Aging, Physiology, and Emotions (ESCAPE) is an NIA funded study that examines the mechanisms that link stress to cognitive aging. It is a longitudinal measurement-burst design study that aims to examine short-term fluctuations and long-term change in cognitive function within and between individuals across various stress contexts (e.g., daily hassles, major life events, chronic strains). This ongoing study involves 320 adults who will complete 4 biannual ‘bursts’ of 14 days of ecological momentary assessments (EMA). In the EMA component of the study, participants carry specially-programmed smartphones to report on their daily experiences, emotions, and thoughts. They also complete ‘brain games’ on the smartphones which assess their cognitive performance. Participants complete these smartphone surveys in the morning, five times throughout the day, and at bedtime. Prior to each burst, participants complete in-lab assessments of cognition, stress, health status and other risk regulators. Using this approach, this study aims to: 1) improve our understanding on the longitudinal association between stress-related risk-factors and cognitive aging; 2) identify mechanisms (e.g., unconstructive repetitive thought) that link stress to cognitive aging; and 3) determine the temporal ordering between stress, stress mediators, and cognition.
The long-term goal of this grant is to better understand healthy aging as well as the special challenges to maintaining cognitive health that face adults as they transition from mid-life into senior years.
The long-term goal of this grant is to better understand healthy aging as well as the special challenges to maintaining cognitive health that face adults as they transition from mid-life into senior years.
Inflammatory Mediators of Stress and Cognitive Aging
This NIA funded project extends the longitudinal ESCAPE study to examine the degree to which stress-related alterations of both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and in inflammation (both basal inflammation and inflammatory responses) relate to changes in cognitive function, and how longer-term changes in inflammatory profiles account for cognitive decline. The degree to which tendencies toward heightened rumination or emotion across time may extend stress responses, moderate inflammation, and accelerate long-term changes in cognition will also be determined.
Data from this project will improve understanding of the physiological mechanisms by which stress increases risk of cognitive decline, within a broad psychosocial context over time. In the long-run, this project is thus expected to elucidate novel approaches for early detection and intervention.
Data from this project will improve understanding of the physiological mechanisms by which stress increases risk of cognitive decline, within a broad psychosocial context over time. In the long-run, this project is thus expected to elucidate novel approaches for early detection and intervention.
The Einstein Soccer Study
The goal of this NIH funded project is to use neuroimaging, neuropsychological assessment, as well as daily assessment of objective cognitive function and cognitive symptoms to examine whether frequent "heading" among soccer players impacts their neurocognitive function across multiple timescales (e.g., daily effects, cumulative effects across months).
The Geriatric Workforce Education Project
This is a community engaged research project (funded by HRSA) that aims to train community nurses to deliver a sedentary behavior intervention to community residing seniors to displace sitting with light physical activity. The long-term goal of this project is to develop and disseminate an evidence based, affordable lifestyle intervention that is tailored to specific community needs.
