White matter aging in late midlife women: Validation and association with neurodegenerative biomarkers.

Background: Brain age (BA) prediction models have emerged as valuable tools for understanding individual differences in trajectories of brain aging. These models aim to estimate overall brain health by predicting BA based on structural MRI data. To enhance the specificity of existing BA models, we introduce a deep learning‐based BA prediction model.

APOE4‐related brain vulnerabilities in memory circuitry of midlife women.

Background: The APOE4 genotype appears to confer differential risk of Alzheimer’s disease for women compared to men. As APOE4 effects in midlife women can be subtle (e.g.

Evaluating the Role of Kidney Function and Comorbidities in Observed Racial/Ethnic Differences in Blood‐based Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration: Results from the Einstein Aging Study (EAS).

Background: Recent research reveals that Alzheimer’s Disease blood‐based biomarkers (BBB) are influenced by demographics as well as kidney function and comorbidities. Data on differences in BBBs by race and ethnicity are sparse. We examined whether racial/ethnic differences in BBBs persist after controlling for kidney function and comorbidities.

Feasibility of A Multi‐Pronged, Multi‐Sensor Cognitive Aging Protocol in a diversified Cohort: Results from the Einstein Aging Study.

Background: Older adults, especially from diverse populations, are often presumed to be unwilling or unable to participate in mobile health (mHealth) studies. Since 2017, the Einstein Aging Study (EAS) participants have been instructed on and actively supported in completing comprehensive and intensive longitudinal assessments, harnessing the capabilities of smartphones and wearable devices. Notably, since early 2023, the EAS has expanded its scope by incorporating the gathering of data from multiple wearable sensors.

Neighborhood economic segregation and cognitive decline among midlife women: Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation.

Background: Neighborhood context includes conditions of the environment where people spend their time (e.g., work, play, seek health care) and it may affect residents’ cognitive health.

N‐terminal Brain Natriuretic Peptide over the Menopause Transition and Cognitive Performance after Menopause: Study of Women’s Heath Across the Nation.

Background: N‐terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) is a marker of cardiac health and a strong predictor of mortality, incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), and sudden cardiac death in community populations. A link between the menopause transition (MT), sex hormones, and NTproBNP has been suggested, though, no studies have formally examined how NTproBNP changes over the MT. In addition of being a marker of cardiac health, studies suggest NTproBNP to be related to cognitive performance, yet those studies have not considered the MT.

Time spent in an impaired glucose state across the midlife and early late adulthood cognitive function: Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation.

Background: Over 30 million Americans have diabetes, with 9 million likely undiagnosed. Diabetes is associated with cognitive decline and risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD). The lifetime impact of diabetes and prediabetes on cognition may be cumulative.

Optimizing the Assessment of Self‐Perceived Cognitive Functioning for Predicting Mild Cognitive Impairment: Integrating Traditional Methods with Daily Digital Diary Assessments: Results from the Einstein Aging Study (EAS).

Background: Ecological momentary assessments (EMA) are increasingly used to monitor self‐perceived memory and cognitive difficulties. We investigate how traditional self‐reported, recall based assessments of cognitive difficulties correlate with EMA measures. We identify factors explaining shared variance between measures from the 40‐item version of the Cognitive Change Index (CCI) and from EMA daily diaries, and factors explaining unique variance in each assessment.

Exposure to air pollution is associated with adipokines in midlife women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

This study examined the associations between ambient air pollution exposure, including fine particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO), and ozone (O), with serum levels of high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, leptin, and soluble leptin receptors (sOB-R) in midlife women. The analysis included 1551 participants from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (median age = 52.3 years) with adipokine data from 2002 to 2003.

Associations of endogenous estrogens, plasma Alzheimer's disease biomarkers, and carrier status on regional brain volumes in postmenopausal women.

Background: Women carrying the allele are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) from ages 65-75 years compared to men. To better understand the elevated risk conferred by carrier status among midlife women, we investigated the separate and interactive associations of endogenous estrogens, plasma AD biomarkers, and carrier status on regional brain volumes in a sample of late midlife postmenopausal women.

Methods: Participants were enrolled in MsBrain, a cohort study of postmenopausal women ( = 171, mean age = 59.

Endogenous estrogens and brain activation during verbal memory encoding and recognition in the postmenopause.

Objective: Determine associations of endogenous estrogens with memory systems in the postmenopausal brain and evaluate clinical significance.

Study Design: In the MsBrain cohort (n=199, mean age 59.3+3.

Reproductive hormones in relation to white matter hyperintensity volumes among midlife women.

Introduction: Although reproductive hormones are implicated in cerebral small vessel disease in women, few studies consider measured hormones in relation to white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV), a key indicator of cerebral small vessel disease. Even fewer studies consider estrone (E1), the primary postmenopausal estrogen, or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), an indicator of ovarian age. We tested associations of estradiol (E2), E1, and FSH to WMHV among women.

Perceived but not objective measures of neighborhood safety and food environments are associated with longitudinal changes in processing speed among urban older adults.

Background: Although a growing body of literature documents the importance of neighborhood effects on late-life cognition, little is known about the relative strength of objective and subjective neighborhood measures on late-life cognitive changes. This study examined effects of objective and subjective neighborhood measures in three neighborhood domains (neighborhood safety, physical disorder, food environments) on longitudinal changes in processing speed, an early marker of cognitive aging and impairment.

Methods: The analysis sample included 306 community-dwelling older adults enrolled in the Einstein Aging Study (mean age = 77, age range = 70 to 91; female = 67.

Neighborhood physical environments and change in cardiometabolic risk factors over 14 years in the study of Women's health across the nation.

Background: Neighborhood physical environments may influence cardiometabolic health, but prior studies have been inconsistent, and few included long follow-up periods.

Methods: Changes in cardiometabolic risk factors were measured for up to 14 years in 2830 midlife women in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, a multi-ethnic/racial cohort of women from seven U.S.

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Introduction: The LIfestyle for BRAin Health (LIBRA) index yields a dementia risk score based on modifiable lifestyle factors and is validated in Western samples. We investigated whether the association between LIBRA scores and incident dementia is moderated by geographical location or sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods: We combined data from 21 prospective cohorts across six continents (N = 31,680) and conducted cohort-specific Cox proportional hazard regression analyses in a two-step individual participant data meta-analysis.

Elevated Blood Homocysteine Increases the Risk of Incident Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome: A Two-Cohort Study.

Background: Motoric Cognitive Risk (MCR) syndrome, a predementia syndrome characterized by cognitive complaints and slow gait, may have an underlying vascular etiology. Elevated blood levels of homocysteine, a known vascular risk factor, have been linked to physical and cognitive decline in older adults, though the relationship with MCR is unknown. We aimed to identify the association between homocysteine and MCR risk.

Cardiovascular Health, Race, and Decline in Cognitive Function in Midlife Women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

Background: Cognitive decline may progress for decades before dementia onset. Better cardiovascular health (CVH) has been related to less cognitive decline, but it is unclear whether this begins early, for all racial subgroups, and all domains of cognitive function. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of CVH on decline in the 2 domains of cognition that decline first in White and Black women at midlife.

Does the Cognitive Change Index Predict Future Cognitive and Clinical Decline? Longitudinal Analysis in a Demographically Diverse Cohort.

Background: The Cognitive Change Index (CCI) is a widely-used measure of self-perceived cognitive ability and change. Unfortunately, it is unclear if the CCI predicts future cognitive and clinical decline.

Objective: We evaluated baseline CCI to predict transition from normal cognition to cognitive impairment in nondemented older adults and in predementia groups including, subjective cognitive decline, motoric cognitive risk syndrome, and mild cognitive impairment.

Trajectories of Sleep Over Midlife and Incident Cardiovascular Disease Events in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

Background: Up to 50% of women report sleep problems in midlife, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women. How chronic poor sleep exposure over decades of midlife is related to CVD risk in women is poorly understood. We tested whether trajectories of insomnia symptoms or sleep duration over midlife were related to subsequent CVD events among SWAN (Study of Women's Health Across the Nation) participants, whose sleep was assessed up to 16 times over 22 years.

Menopausal vasomotor symptoms and plasma Alzheimer disease biomarkers.

Background: Identifying risk factors for Alzheimer disease in women is important as women compose two-thirds of individuals with Alzheimer disease. Previous work links vasomotor symptoms, the cardinal menopausal symptom, with poor memory performance and alterations in brain structure, function, and connectivity. These associations are evident when vasomotor symptoms are monitored objectively with ambulatory skin conductance monitors.

Use of Antihypertensives, Blood Pressure, and Estimated Risk of Dementia in Late Life: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.

Importance: The utility of antihypertensives and ideal blood pressure (BP) for dementia prevention in late life remains unclear and highly contested.

Objectives: To assess the associations of hypertension history, antihypertensive use, and baseline measured BP in late life (age >60 years) with dementia and the moderating factors of age, sex, and racial group.

Data Source And Study Selection: Longitudinal, population-based studies of aging participating in the Cohort Studies of Memory in an International Consortium (COSMIC) group were included.