2011 — 2013 |
Haley, Andreana Petrova |
R01Activity Code Description: To support a discrete, specified, circumscribed project to be performed by the named investigator(s) in an area representing his or her specific interest and competencies. |
Neuroimaging Cognitive Vulnerability in Hypertension @ University of Texas, Austin
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cognition is the most important determinant of functional ability and quality of life. Diminished cognitive capacity can cause significant psychological, social, and economic hardship and adversely impact a person's ability to benefit from treatment for other medical problems. The most rapidly rising threat to cognitive health in US adults is the clustering of obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in a single person, a condition known as metabolic syndrome (MetS). A staggering 34-45% of US adults currently fulfill criteria for MetS. While we have some information about each of the disrupted peripheral physiological mechanisms in turn, very little is known about the central mechanisms that connect the syndrome to brain health and cognition. The goal of the proposed work is to explore the underlying neural mechanisms of MetS-related brain vulnerability in midlife, before clinically significant and permanent cognitive dysfunction has developed. Understanding the pre-clinical stages of disease has the enormous advantage of presenting opportunities for early intervention, a task with much higher prospect of success than striving to restore lost function later in life. The specific aims of this project will be accomplished by examining behavioral performance, cerebral metabolism, and brain response to a cognitive challenge in cognitively intact middle-aged adults with and without MetS in a cross sectional between groups design. We propose to first define the unique patterns of cerebrovascular response to cognition associated with MetS using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI);then, to characterize the changes in neuronal viability associated with midlife MetS using neurospectroscopy (1H MRS);and finally, to test if neurochemical alterations mediate the observed alterations in functional brain activation in response to a cognitive challenge using path analysis. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Cognition is the most important determinant of functional ability and quality of life. The most rapidly rising threat to cognitive health in US adults is the clustering of obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in a single person, a condition known as metabolic syndrome (MetS), yet little is known about the mechanisms that connect the syndrome to brain health. The goal of the proposed work is to explore the underlying neural mechanisms of MetS-related brain vulnerability in midlife, in order to guide efforts to prevent and treat late-life cognitive impairment, and ensure successful aging for our growing population of elderly.
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2016 — 2017 |
Haley, Andreana Petrova |
R21Activity Code Description: To encourage the development of new research activities in categorical program areas. (Support generally is restricted in level of support and in time.) |
Cognitive Enhancement Through Transcranial Laser Therapy @ University of Texas, Austin
? DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cardiovascular diseases are associated with diminished cognitive function, even in patients without vascular dementia. Considering the high prevalence of these disorders in the United States, and the fact that cognition is the most important determinant of quality of life and functional ability in older age, early interventions t preserve cognitive function in patients at cardiovascular risk are crucial for ensuring the successful aging of our growing elderly population. While an ideal intervention would restore the original cardiovascular status, that is often not possible for a variety of reasons. An alternative approach is to support brain energy production by up-regulating mitochondrial respiration. One highly promising novel intervention is transcranial low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with directional low-power and high-fluence light energy from infrared lasers to stimulate brain energy production. LLLT is safe, non-invasive and therapeutically beneficial, promoting enhancement of energy production, gene expression and prevention of cell death. The goal of this project is to test the efficacy of LLLT to enhance neurocognitive function in middle-aged adults and examine the modulating influences of carotid atherosclerosis. The specific aims will be accomplished in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) by examining cognitive test performance and blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response to a working memory task in middle-aged adults pre- and post- 8-week long intervention of LLLT or placebo. In addition, we will examine if carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) moderates the therapeutic effects of LLLT.
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