Identifying Midlife Social Exposures that Might Modify Risk for Cognitive Impairment Associated with Early Life Disadvantage

Goals:

Early-life disadvantages may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias, and midlife social exposures to structural and institutional forces may modify those risks. Identify research gaps and opportunities to accelerate knowledge of how risks may be reduced.

9:00–9:30a.m. | Welcome/Introductory remarks from NASEM, NIA, and the Workshop Planning Committee

• Malay Majmundar, Director, Committee on Population
• Emerald Nguyen, National Institute on Aging
• Robert Hummer (chair), University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

9:30–10:45a.m. | Session 1: Laying the Foundation

Guiding Questions:

• What are the most pressing early life disadvantages that both set up midlife exposures and that are associated with later life cognitive health and dementia risks?
• What population-based data sources exist that help link early life disadvantages with midlife exposures, and what data needs are there in this area of study?

Panelists:

• Pamela Herd, Georgetown University
• Paola Gilsanz, Kaiser Permanente

Moderator:

• Robert Hummer (chair), University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

10:45–11:00a.m. | Break

11:00–1:00p.m. | Session 2: Life Course Models of Cognition and Risk of Dementia

Guiding Questions:

• What are the most important midlife social and institutional pathways through which early life social disadvantages create risk for later life cognitive decline and dementia?
• What data sets and methodologies have been or will be most important in understanding these life course processes?
• What are the most important data & methodological needs in this area of research?

Panelists:

• Claire Yang, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, virtual participant
• Adina Zeki Al Hazzouri, Columbia University
• Rebeca Wong, University of Texas Health San Antonio, virtual participant

Moderator:

• Hector Gonzales (Member), University of California-San Diego

1:00–2:00p.m. | Lunch

2:00–3:15p.m. | Session 3: Educational and Workplace Contexts/Policy

Guiding Questions:

• How do educational and workplace contexts influence cognitive decline and risk of dementia?
• What are the key findings and research needs in this area of study?

Panelists:

• Eric Grodsky, University of Wisconsin
• Deborah Carr, Boston University

Moderator:

• Robert Hummer (chair), University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

3:15–3:30p.m. | Session 4: Social and Health Policies (e.g., food, housing, healthcare, income, civil rights)

Guiding Questions:

• How do early social and health policies influence cognitive decline and risk of dementia?
• What are the key findings and research needs in this area of study?

Panelists:

• David Rehkopf, Stanford University
• Jason Fletcher, University of Wisconsin

Moderator:

• Atheendar Venkataramani (Member), University of Pennsylvania

4:15p.m. | End of Day 1

9:00–10:15a.m. | Session 5: Neighborhoods

Guiding Questions:

• How do early social support and integration influence cognitive decline and risk of dementia?
• What are the key findings and research needs in this area of study?

Panelists:

• Jessica Finlay, University of Colorado
• Liz Muñoz, University of Texas-Austin
• Mike Esposito, University of Minnesota, virtual participant

Moderator:

• Jacqueline Torres (Member), University of Southern California

10:15–10:30a.m. | Break

10:30–11:45a.m. | Session 6: Environmental Exposures

Guiding Questions:

• How do environmental exposures influence cognitive decline and risk of dementia?
• What are the key findings and research needs in this area of study?

Panelists:

• Priya Palta, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• Jennifer Weuve, Boston University

Moderator:

• Jennifer Ailshire (Member), University of Southern California

11:45–12:15p.m. | Break

12:15–1:15p.m. | Session 7: A Discussion of Key Takeaways and Future Directions

Guiding Questions:

• What are the major substantive takeaways from the workshop?
• What are the important data needs to better understand midlife social, structural, and institutional exposures? Are there particular methodological needs in this area of study?
• What are the most important suggestions for NIA to spin out of this workshop … e.g., funding initiatives; research avenues for better understanding the midlife social, structural, and institutional factors associated with cognitive functioning and aging?

Panelists:

• Katrina Walsemann, University of Maryland-College Park
• Robert Hummer (chair), University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Moderator:

• Hector Gonzales (Member), University of California-San Diego

1:15p.m. | Meeting Adjourns