Weathering Temperature Extremes: Cross-national Comparisons of Temperature and Cognitive Outcomes Among Older Adults - 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.
