Faculty Bibliography

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:We examined obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity's association with Alzheimer's disease (AD) plasma biomarkers, independent or synergistic with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid, and as a proof of concept, whether plasma amyloid beta (Aβ)42/Aβ40 with OSA severity improves detection of amyloidosis and tau pathology. METHODS:In 120 cognitively normal older adults (70 with CSF data) from New York University sleep and aging studies (2013-2021), OSA severity was measured using apnea/hypopnea index with 4% desaturation; plasma Aβ40, Aβ42, tau, and neurofilament light chain (NfL) via single molecule array; CSF amyloid and tau via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Associations evaluated adjusted correlations and generalized models; receiver operating characteristic analyses evaluated diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS:OSA severity correlated with plasma Aβ40 (r = 0.21), Aβ42 (r = 0.26), and Aβ42/Aβ40 (r = 0.20). Plasma tau and NfL associations depended on CSF-Aβ42. OSA severity with Aβ42/Aβ40 improved CSF amyloidosis (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.78) and tau pathology (AUC = 0.71) detection. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:OSA severity relates to elevated plasma Aβ and, with CSF amyloid, to tau/NfL. Combined plasma and OSA measures aid non-invasive AD associations' detection.

OBJECTIVES/UNASSIGNED:To investigate the relationship between short and long sleep duration and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in a diverse cohort of cognitively normal mid- to older-age adults. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, including 63,948 adults aged 40-70. SCD was assessed using BRFSS survey queries. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the association between sleep duration ( < 7, 7, ≥8 hours) and SCD, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and history of depression. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:Both short and long sleep durations were associated with higher odds of SCD. The association between short sleep and SCD was strongest among individuals in their 40s at the start of midlife. Findings were consistent across all ages for non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) and for Hispanics/Latinos in their 50s and 70s. Black/African American (B/AA) adults exhibited a stronger relationship between both short and long sleep duration and SCD as they aged from midlife into their 80s, compared to NHWs. CONCLUSIONS/UNASSIGNED:Short sleep duration is more strongly associated with subjective cognitive decline in midlife, particularly among B/AA adults. Addressing sleep disparities may help mitigate the risk of SCD.

Antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) have reduced mortality among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Nigeria. Nonetheless, there is limited research on the impact of perceived helplessness on the wellbeing of PLWH in Nigeria. This study examined the effect of perceived helplessness on middle-age and older PLWH using health-related quality of life (HRQoL), subjective health (SH), and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) as outcomes related to wellbeing. We invited 150 participants, all of whom completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing the variables of interest and key sociodemographic characteristics. Multiple linear regression models were fit to examine the relationship between perceived helplessness and wellbeing, accounting for relevant covariates such as age, sex, relationship status etc. Results showed that higher perceived helplessness was associated with lower physical HRQoL (B = -0.275, p < 0.001), lower mental HRQoL (B = -0.18, p < 0.001), better SH (B = 0.010, p < 0.001) and higher reports of SCD (B = 0.443, p < 0.001). PLWH in Nigeria are exposed to stressors that diminish their sense of control and increase their risk for poor wellbeing. The findings underscore the need for interventions to ameliorate perceived helplessness, thereby improving health and wellbeing among aging adult PLWH in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND:Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. Racial-, ethnic-, and sex-specific mechanisms of OSA and AD risk were examined. METHODS:We analyzed data from 3978 polysomnography patients without cognitive decline aged ≥ 60 including 663 OSA+ patients (284 non-Hispanic White, 207 Black, 172 Hispanic) matched to OSA- cohorts (1:1, n = 663; 1:4, n = 2652) and followed for AD through 2013. RESULTS:During the 8.5 (standard deviation 1.4) year period, 358 patients developed AD. AD risk was higher for Black (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.24 [1.24-2.71]), Hispanic (aHR 1.73, [1.38-3.51]), White (aHR 1.83, [1.21-3.37]), male (aHR 2.38, [1.31-3.47]), and female (aHR 1.37, [1.14-2.41]) patients. Hypoxia, sleep fragmentation, and sleep duration (p < 0.01) were associated with increased risk. Black and Hispanic, and female patients showed stronger effects for hypoxia and duration, and fragmentation, respectively. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:Hypoxia, fragmentation, and duration may underlie racial-, ethnic-, and sex-specific effects of AD risk.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:It remains unclear whether specific blood pressure components-systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), or mean arterial pressure (MAP)-are similarly associated with white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden across sexes within racial and ethnic groups. METHODS:= 1307) adults. Linear regression models examined associations between SBP, DBP, PP, and MAP with log-transformed WMH volume normalized to intracranial volume. Analyses were stratified by race and ethnic group and included sex × blood pressure interaction terms. Models adjusted for age, education, neuroimaging scanner, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, and tobacco use. RESULTS:Among NHW participants, higher SBP and PP were more strongly associated with greater WMH volume in females compared to males. Among NHB participants, blood pressure-WMH associations did not differ by sex. Among Hispanic participants, females exhibited greater WMH volume in DBP- and MAP-adjusted models, although blood pressure-WMH associations were stronger in males. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:Blood pressure-WMH associations differ by sex within racial and ethnic groups. These findings highlight intersectional heterogeneity in cerebrovascular vulnerability and suggest that sex-specific blood pressure-related pathways to small-vessel injury vary across racial and ethnic contexts. HIGHLIGHTS/UNASSIGNED:Non-Hispanic White (NHW) females showed stronger systolic blood pressure (SBP)- and pulse pressure (PP)-white matter hyperintensity (WMH) associations than NHW males.Blood pressure (BP)-WMH associations did not differ by sex among non-Hispanic Black participants.Among Hispanic adults, BP-WMH associations were stronger in males than females.Antihypertensive use was associated with higher WMHs across race and ethnic groups.BP-related WMH vulnerability varies by sex and race and ethnic context.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Sleep, depression, stress, and neighborhood support are independently linked to cognition, but how these factors interact when sleep quality is poor remains understudied. METHODS:We analyzed cross-sectional baseline data from 233 adults aged ≥ 65 years in the Aging Adult Brain Connectome study. Sleep quality, depressive symptoms, stress, and neighborhood support were assessed with validated scales, and cognition was measured using the Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite (PACC). Models tested two- and three-way interactions, adjusting for sociodemographics. RESULTS:Poor sleep quality was associated with lower PACC scores (β = -0.57, p = 0.002). This association was even more pronounced in older adults who also had depressive symptoms (β = -0.09, p < 0.001) or increased stress (β = -0.31, p < 0.001). This effect was attenuated by greater neighborhood support (interaction estimates 0.007-0.021, all p ≤ 0.014). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:Poor sleep quality was associated with lower cognition, compounded by psychosocial burden and buffered by neighborhood support. HIGHLIGHTS/CONCLUSIONS:Poor sleep quality worsened late-life cognitive performance in older adults. Depressive symptoms and stress further worsened the effect of poor sleep on cognitive performance. Neighborhood support buffered negative sleep-psychosocial impacts on cognitive performance.

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is associated with preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD). Suboptimal sleep is also a risk factor for cognitive decline, but with unclear relationship to SCD. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in a biracial research cohort of 148 cognitively normal older adults who underwent quantification of SCD (Cognitive Change Index; CCI), sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale; ESS), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale; GDS), and amyloid/tau PET. ESS score was associated with total, amnestic, and non-amnestic CCI scores, after adjustment for GDS, amyloid/tau burden, and race. This supports future longitudinal work on how sleepiness impacts SCD outcomes.

Amid the dismantling of state structures in Haiti, the first Black republic faces significant health disparities compared to its former colonial power, France. These disparities include lower life expectancy (64.8 vs. 82.3 years) and higher infant and maternal mortality rates. The situation is further exacerbated by widespread mental health issues, severe food insecurity (50% acute vs. 37% moderate), and elevated homicide rates (13.35 vs. 1.35 per 100,000 inhabitants). As calls grow for France to return the independence ransoms extracted from Haiti, there remains limited data on how reparations could impact the country's public health, community well-being, or effective implementation of healing programs. Between Spring and Fall 2023, we conducted 4 focus groups: 1st with Haitian men and women residing in the United States, a 2nd-with men in Haiti, a 3rd with women in Cap-Haïtien and Les Cayes, and a 4th with women in Cité Soleil. We conducted focus groups structured interview protocol, comprised of open-ended questions categorized into 4 thematic sections. These questions provided insights into participants' perceptions on mental health, the daily challenges and barriers to access care, and community-based healing. Participants emphasized need for policies that address the social determinants of health, ensure safety and justice, and promote healthier workplace environments. They also advocated for mental health education aimed at reducing stigma, cultivating trust, and strengthening community support systems; with an emphasis on developing professional training, ethics, and sustainable long-term mental health services accessible for individuals of all ages. Haitian participants underscore the critical need to restore security, address the social determinants of health, and implement community-based mental health initiatives. We propose a biopsychosocial-ecological approach to guide reparations efforts. A targeted investment of $30 billion could yield substantial improvements in healthcare, mental health services, and public safety-contributing to increased life expectancy, reduced mortality rates, and decreased violence.

Anxiety is highly prevalent in Alzheimer's disease (AD), correlating with cerebrospinal fluid/positron emission tomography biomarkers and disease progression. Relationships to plasma biomarkers are unclear. Herein, we compare levels of plasma biomarkers in research participants with and without anxiety at cognitively normal, mild cognitive impairment, and AD dementia stages. We observed significantly higher plasma tau/amyloid-β₄₂ ratio in AD participants with anxiety versus those without, but did not observe differences at other stages or plasma biomarkers. No such relationships were evident with depression. These results support a unique pathophysiological relationship between anxiety and AD that can be reflected in plasma biomarkers, suggestive of heightened neurodegeneration.

Despite efforts in recent years, including in policy and research, to address health disparities in the United States, many of those disparities continue to fester in marginalized racial/ethnic populations. Understanding sleep health disparities is critical in understanding the health and wellness of these groups. Using obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Black populations as a focus, this paper presents the role of race and ethnicity in the clinical understanding of sleep health-related issues by medical practitioners and the implications of the lack of clear policies or best practices to guide medical practitioners' attempts to meet sleep-related needs of marginalized racial/ethnic populations. Furthermore, the knowledge gap may be further complicated by the poor understanding and integration of existing evidence with the many, complex, sleep-associated co-morbidities. Policymaking in this area ought to be based on the ethical implications of disparate sleep-related health outcomes by race and ethnicity. So, we conclude by offering recommendations for developing ethically sound policies for addressing sleep problems in marginalized racial and ethnic populations.