An Analysis of Psychosocial Risk and Protective Factors: Accelerated Cognitive Aging and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) Among Retired NFL & Former NCAA Football Players

项目摘要/摘要：罗伯特·W·特纳二世是该中心的副研究员 杜克大学的生物行为健康差异研究。他受过医学社会学的训练， 人种学方法和健康差距研究，以及对改善 成年男性的心理健康状况。他以前和现在的工作使他接触到了理论上的 与男性健康差距和老龄化研究相关的观点和实证方法。 目前的建议是设立五年指导研究科学家发展奖(K01)，由 国家老龄培训和支持研究所，解决他在生物行为方面的知识空白 轻度创伤性脑损伤、脑外伤和认知老化加速的潜在因素。在协作中 在他的指导团队(Tim Struan博士、Keith Whitfield博士和Toni Antonucci博士)的帮助下，他开发了一种 全面的培训和研究计划，既能填补这些知识空白，又能让他做好准备 从事独立的研究事业。他的K01的首要目标是成为一名 心理社会和神经认知因素的多项测量之间的相互关系 认知老化加速，并成为他建立独立调查员的桥梁 从事老年成年男性人群的生物行为健康差异研究。至 为了实现这一目标，他提出了四项职业发展活动和三项研究目标 在调查研究技术方面将教学与知名学者相结合；正规课程； 参加杜克大学正在进行的研讨会；与导师进行一对一的定向阅读；以及 最后，自始至终进行“概念论证研究”。将收集初步数据 使用由调查、焦点小组和深度访谈组成的混合方法设计。这个 两个研究目标将使他能够整合和应用他将通过 拟议的培训活动，通过建立更有力的心理社会保护和风险的总体肖像 可能影响男性mTBI长期后果的因素比以前可能的更多。这个 本项目中使用的办法将解决：a)男性在预测 认知老化加速的心理社会因素和b)对男子气概的理解是如何发展的 跨组和组内与疼痛、损伤和大脑健康的关系。这个项目将继续 建立在他通过研究退役NFL球员的数据而获得的洞察力的基础上。 通过完成这些目标，他将检验重要的假设，并为 通过描述mTBI导致的认知加速衰老过程的证据基础。这 该提案与公共卫生相关，因为它将探索创新的方法来解决功能性、 脑震荡患者的认知和心理社会脆弱性，并可能最终降低患脑震荡的风险 慢性创伤性脑病(CTE)和脑震荡引起的阿尔茨海默病。会的 还告知R系列拨款提案，以研究加速认知衰老和脑成像。 特纳计划在该项目的第四年提交。

Project Summary/Abstract: Robert W. Turner II is a Research Associate in the Center on Biobehavioral Health Disparities Research at Duke University. He has training in medical sociology, ethnographic methods, and health disparities research as well as a strong commitment to improving the mental health of adult males. His previous and current work has exposed him to theoretical perspectives and empirical approaches pertinent to health disparity and aging research among men. The current proposal is for a five year Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) from the National Institute on Aging for training and support that address gaps in his knowledge of biobehavioral factors underlying mild traumatic brain injury mTBI and accelerated cognitive aging. In collaboration with his mentoring team (Drs. Tim Strauman, Keith Whitfield, and Toni Antonucci) he has developed a comprehensive training and research plan that will both fill in these knowledge gaps and prepare him for an independent research career. The overarching goal of his K01 is to become an expert on the interrelationships between multiple measures of psychosocial and neurocognitive factors associated with accelerated cognitive aging, and serve as bridge for him to establish an independent investigator career in conducting biobehavioral health disparities research in aging adult male populations. To accomplish this goal, he proposes four career development activities and three research aims that combines instruction with established scholars in survey research techniques; formal coursework; participation in ongoing seminars at Duke University; one-to-one directed readings with mentors; and finally, conduction of a “proof of concept study” from start to finish. Preliminary data will be collected with using a mixed-method design that consists of a survey, focus groups, and in-depth interviews. The two research aims will enable him to integrate and apply the knowledge that he will gain through the proposed training activities by creating a more robust overall portrait of psychosocial protective and risk factors that may impact the long-term consequences of mTBI among men than previously possible. The approach used in this project will address; a) male vulnerabilities in predicting the impact of psychosocial factors on accelerated cognitive aging and b) how understandings of masculinity develop across and within groups in relationship to pain, injury, and brain health. This project will continue to build on insights he has gained through his examination of data from the Study of Retired NFL Players. By completing these aims, he will test important hypotheses and make a substantial contribution to the evidence base by describing the process of cognitive accelerated aging resulting from mTBI. This proposal is relevant to public health because it will explore innovative approaches to address functional, cognitive, and psychosocial vulnerabilities in concussed men, and may ultimately reduce the risk of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and Alzheimer's disease resulting from concussions. It will also inform an R-series grant proposal to study accelerated cognitive aging and brain imaging that Dr. Turner plans to submit in year 4 of the project.