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NIH grant 1K99AG097900-01A1: Weathering Temperature Extremes: Cross-national Comparisons of Temperature and Cognitive Outcomes Among Older Adults
Institute: {'code': 'AG', 'abbreviation': 'NIA', 'name': 'National Institute on Aging', 'admin_org_id': '12500002', 'admin_funding_url': ''}. PI: Sneha Sarah Mani. Award: $125064.
Start: 2026-09-11T00:00:00.
PROJECT SUMMARY
Dr. Sneha Sarah Mani is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health seeking a Pathway to Independence award to acquire critical knowledge
and skills in (1) environmental exposure science: theory, measurement, and modeling; (2) epidemiology of
cognitive health and Alzheimer’s disease, and related dementias (ADRD); and (3) latent variable modeling and
longitudinal data analysis. This award will equip her with the experience necessary to establish an independent
research career as a tenure-track faculty member. In the short term, her objectives include completing targeted
training, disseminating mentored research through publications and presentations, and applying for NIH R01
funding. These goals will be achieved through a comprehensive training program encompassing specialized
coursework, working groups, and research meetings supported by an interdisciplinary team with expertise in
environmental epidemiology and cross-national research in cognitive outcomes and ADRD.
The proposed research examines how exposure to extreme heat or cold influences cognitive outcomes across
residential locations in three countries in North America, South America, and Asia. Older adults are particularly
vulnerable due to age-associated physiological changes and a higher prevalence of pre-existing health
conditions. The long-term impact of both heat and cold on cognitive decline and ADRD also remains poorly
understood, particularly how these associations differ across countries and residential environments (rural,
semi-urban, urban) that vary in exposure patterns, built and natural environments, adaptive capacity, and
demographic composition. By examining the impact of both short-term and long-term temperature exposures
on cognitive outcomes in older adults across countries and residential settings, the research will support
tailored interventions to protect older populations from the adverse effects of extreme temperatures. The
specific aims are to (1) compare the geographic distribution of extreme heat or cold exposure across
residential locations (rural, semi-urban, urban) in the US, Chile, and India using harmonized temperature
exposure data (Gateway to Global Aging Environmental Exposome); (2) quantify the associations between
short and long-term exposure to extreme heat or cold and cognitive outcomes/dementia across residential
settings (rural, semi-urban, urban) in the US, Chile, and India by leveraging population-based aging surveys
(US Health and Retirement Study, Longitudinal Study of Aging in India, and Chilean Harmonized Assessment
Protocol) with harmonized cognitive measurements; and to (3) estimate the joint associations of extreme heat
and greenspace exposure with cognitive outcomes/dementia among older adults across residential settings
(rural, semi-urban, urban) in the US, Chile, and India. This research is novel because it leverages harmonized
cognitive, sociodemographic, and weather data from distinct contexts, extending our knowledge base and
informing strategies for mitigating ADRD risk and designing interventions to protect older populations in the US.document fetched 2026-09-20 02:42