The contribution of air pollution to racial and ethnic disparities in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias: An application of causal inference methods

项目总结 与非西班牙裔相比，少数族裔患上与年龄相关的认知功能障碍的风险更高 (Nh)白色。这种差异背后的机制还没有得到很好的理解。暴露在空气污染中可能 是造成这些差距的一个重要原因。最近的流行病学研究表明，接触更多的 空气污染会增加阿尔茨海默病和相关痴呆(ADRD)的风险。与NH白人相比， 少数族裔更有可能生活在空气污染水平较高的社区。没有之前的 然而，研究已经量化了空气污染作为种族/民族差异的驱动因素。 阿德勒。这项研究的科学目的是评估空气污染是种族/民族的潜在驱动因素。 了解ADRD的差异，了解空气质量法规对ADRD风险的潜在影响。我们 这项研究将集中在墨西哥裔美国人和NH白人种族/民族之间的差异。这 该项目使用一种创新的方法来结合来自两个现有队列研究的数据：萨克拉门托地区 拉丁裔关于衰老的研究和银杏记忆研究的评价。我们将协调结果和曝光率 来自两个队列的数据，并检查空气污染对ADRD风险的影响是否在不同地区有所不同 种族/民族群体。我们还将通过研究空气污染是否导致ADRD的差异 空气污染暴露的种族/民族差异，个人和社区层面对空气的易感性 污染。最后，我们将使用空气质量来衡量空气质量法规对ADRD风险的潜在影响 以与海港相关的法规为例。拟议的研究将利用先进的因果推论 研究方法包括计量经济学准实验研究设计，以开展本研究。这 研究计划由指导的培训计划补充，该计划建立在候选人的 环境流行病学，包括课程作业、结构化指导和体验式学习 以下领域：1)消除种族歧视方面的种族/族裔差距，2)环境健康差距，3)协调 认知数据，4)空气质量法规，5)高级社会流行病学和因果关系的应用 推理方法。总而言之，拟议的研究和培训计划将使候选人为 成功的独立研究生涯，致力于确定健康老龄化的环境决定因素， 特别是在种族/少数民族人口中。

PROJECT SUMMARY Racial/ethnic minorities are at a higher risk for age-related cognitive dysfunction compared to non-Hispanic (NH) Whites. The mechanisms underlying this disparity are not well understood. Exposure to air pollution may be one important driver of these disparities. Recent epidemiologic studies suggest that increased exposure to air pollution increases risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Compared to NH Whites, racial/ethnic minorities are more likely to live in neighborhoods with higher levels of air pollution. No prior research, however, has quantified the contribution of air pollution as a driver of racial/ethnic disparities in ADRD. The scientific objective of this research is to evaluate air pollution as a potential driver of racial/ethnic disparities in ADRD and to understand the potential implications of air quality regulations on ADRD risk. We will focus this research on disparities between Mexican American and NH White racial/ethnic groups. This project uses an innovative approach to combine data from two existing cohort studies: The Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging and the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study. We will harmonize outcome and exposure data from the two cohorts and examine whether the effect of air pollution on ADRD risk varies across racial/ethnic groups. We will also examine whether air pollution drives disparities in ADRD by examining racial/ethnic differences in air pollution exposure, individual- and neighborhood-level susceptibility to air pollution. Finally, we will measure the potential impacts of air quality regulations on ADRD risk, using air quality regulations related to seaports as an example. The proposed research will leverage advanced causal inference methods including econometric quasi-experimental study designs to carry out the proposed research. This research plan is complemented by a mentored training plan that builds upon the candidate’s background in environmental epidemiology and includes coursework, structured mentoring, and experiential learning in the following areas: 1) racial/ethnic disparities in ADRD, 2) environmental health disparities, 3) harmonization of cognitive data, 4) air quality regulations, and 5) application of advanced social epidemiology and causal inference methods. Together, the proposed research and training plan will prepare the candidate for a successful independent research career dedicated to identifying environmental determinants of healthy aging, especially in racial/ethnic minority populations.