NIH grant: Sedentary behavior and risk for Alzheimer’s Disease (1K23AG097948-01)

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NIH grant 1K23AG097948-01: Sedentary behavior and risk for Alzheimer’s Disease
Institute: {'code': 'AG', 'abbreviation': 'NIA', 'name': 'National Institute on Aging', 'admin_org_id': '12500002', 'admin_funding_url': ''}. PI: Marissa Ann Gogniat. Award: $190088.
Start: 2026-07-01T00:00:00.
PROJECT SUMMARY. The prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s Disease and related
dementias (ADRD) is expected to greatly increase over the next decade, creating a public health crisis. Few
current pharmaceutical treatment options exist, and thus non-pharmaceutical prevention strategies are
needed. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of health behavior modifications will
inform our understanding of biological targets. A common but understudied health behavior is sedentary
behavior. Evidence suggests that sedentary behavior may independently contribute to risk for AD, but the
neurobiological pathways are poorly understood, and this understanding may provide an opportunity for early
prevention. The objective of this K23 is to assess how sedentary behavior relates to cross-sectional and
longitudinal cognitive trajectories and biomarkers of AD while examining indirect effects of concomitant
pathways. I will leverage data from 3 deeply phenotyped aging cohorts with objective accelerometry data and
longitudinal cognition and AD biomarkers at the University of Pittsburgh and my own prospective data
collection. The central hypothesis of this proposal is that greater sedentary behavior will be associated with
worse cognitive function and greater decline, along with higher levels of and increases in AD pathology
measured via positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and blood-based biomarkers. Based on this
hypothesis, the proposal aims to 1) evaluate the association of sedentary behavior and cognition using
comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, 2) Evaluate the link between sedentary behavior and AD
biomarkers, and 3) apply isotemporal substitution methods (regression-based analysis to estimate the effect of
replacing one variable with another) to predict change in longitudinal cognition and ADRD biomarkers on
substitution of sedentary time with activity time, simulating risk factor modification. Simultaneously, I will gain
advanced training and mentorship in 1) acquisition, processing, and interpretation of PET neuroimaging in
ADRD clinical research, 2) end-user proficiency in implementation, use, and interpretation of blood biomarkers,
3) advanced statistical techniques including isotemporal substitution methods and longitudinal data analytic
approaches, and 4) professional development skills, which will position me well to transition to research
independence examining modifiable activity-related risk factors as preventive strategies for ADRD and
cognitive decline. The University of Pittsburgh and my mentorship team provide the ideal combination to
complete the proposed research and training activities. With the skills acquired from this training plan and
completion of specific aims, I plan to write and submit an R01 series examining how activity levels influence
vulnerability to early AD related changes (e.g., neuroinflammation, concomitant vascular pathology) measured
through cognitive trajectories and blood biomarkers. Understanding with more specificity how activity level
influences vulnerability to AD lends itself well to future work that will inform tailored preventative strategies.

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