Cognitive aging in middle and older-aged Canadians: Consideration of genetic risk, modifiable factors, and biological sex
Description: Age-related decline in cognitive performance is common among older adults; however, not all adults show the same degree of decline, and indeed, some adults maintain cognitive performance in late life. Previous research has suggested that certain lifestyle behaviours and individual characteristics may buffer the influence of genes that predispose individuals to cognitive impairment. The intent of the proposed study is to explore this thesis further using data collected over the first three waves of the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging. The proposed study will evaluate whether carriers of dementia-related gene variants have lower cognition at baseline and/or faster rates of decline in cognition over time. This study will then determine whether various behaviours (smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, physical activity) and characteristics (social isolation, depression, education) might modify how strongly these genes relate to cognition, and whether this also depends on whether the individual is biologically male or female. Finally, we will look at markers in the blood to determine whether those might help explain any links between genetics, individual behaviours and characteristics with cognitive aging in this cohort. Overall, the proposed study will shed light on the nature of cognitive aging and the role of genes and individual behaviours and characteristics in either mitigating or accelerating cognitive aging.
Amount: CA$68,970
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Catalyst Grant: Analysis of Canadian Longitudinal Study in Aging (CLSA) Data
Start date: 2023-03-01
End date: 2024-02-29
Investigator: John Best
Institution: Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, B.C.)
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 187248_1
OpenAlex ID: G27789396