Publications by authors named "Wassim Tarraf"

Importance: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may be an early indicator of Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD), yet its association with plasma biomarkers remains unclear among middle-aged and older adults (aged 50-86 years).

Objective: To examine associations between plasma biomarkers of amyloid, tau, neuroaxonal damage, and glial activation with SCD in a heterogeneous cohort of Hispanic and/or Latino adults.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study used survey-weighted data from the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging, an ancillary study of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

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Introduction: Depressive symptoms and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) are commonly reported prior to cognitive impairment. We examined associations between depressive symptoms and SCD among diverse Hispanic/Latino adults to better understand how depressive symptoms should be considered when interpreting SCD.

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from Hispanic/Latino adults [n = 6189; Age: M= 63.

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Background: Blood-based biomarkers hold significant promise for the early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias. Age-related changes in blood levels of AD biomarkers are well-documented but poorly understood. Epigenetic clocks are mathematical models based on DNA methylation patterns that reflect various aspects of the multidimensional aging process.

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Background: Plasma amyloid-tau-neurodegeneration (ATN) biomarker levels may be influenced by non-brain systems, such as kidney function, which could impact the interpretation of ATN biomarker results, particularly in groups like Hispanic/Latino individuals with higher rates of cardiometabolic health issues. Here, we examine the association between kidney function and plasma ATN markers among a diverse sample of Hispanic/Latino individuals living in the U.S.

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Introduction: The purpose of this study is to examine associations between kidney disease and cognitive impairment among diverse middle-aged and older Hispanic/Latino individuals.

Methods: Between 2016 and 2018, the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA) enrolled diverse Hispanic/Latino individuals ages 50 years and older (n = 6377). Cognitive function, cognitive change, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were the primary outcomes.

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Background: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common and associated with worse cardiovascular and brain health. Hispanic/Latino individuals are at increased risk for SDB. OSA is the most studied SDB; it is characterized by apnea-hypopnea events and has been linked to adverse vascular health and cognitive sequelae.

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Introduction: Upward educational attainment is associated with better cognitive function; differences by Hispanic/Latino heritage are unclear.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) and its ancillary study SOL-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA; n = 3300) to compare cognitive function and 7-year cognitive change between first-generation and multigenerational high school (HS) graduates (i.e.

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Due to the paucity of longitudinal DNA methylation data (DNAm), especially among Hispanic/Latino adults, the association between changes in epigenetic clocks over time and cognitive aging phenotypes has not been investigated. This longitudinal study included 2671 Hispanic/Latino adults (57 years; 66% women) with blood DNAm data and neurocognitive function assessed at two visits approximately 7 years apart. We evaluated the associations of 5 epigenetic clocks and their between-visit change with multiple measures of cognitive aging that included a global cognitive function score at each visit, between-visit change in global cognitive function score, MCI diagnosis, and presence of significant cognitive decline at visit 2 (V2).

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Background: Lp(a) (lipoprotein[a]) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease; however, its association with cerebrovascular disease is not as well established.

Methods: Data from a population-based cohort of Hispanics/Latinos included 16 333 individuals with baseline Lp(a) levels (nmol/L) and self-reported prevalent stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). A subset of 2642 individuals with brain magnetic resonance imaging was also included.

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Background And Objectives: Better cardiovascular health (CVH), measured using the Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score, is associated with improved cognitive function. However, its effect on brain imaging in Hispanics/Latinos has not been reported. We investigated the association of LS7 score with brain MRI outcomes in a diverse Hispanic/Latino population.

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Background: Modifiable risk factors play a central role in the development and course of neurodegenerative disorders of later life, including dementias. Although past research has focused on independent associations of modifiable risk factors, including cardiovascular disease risk factors using Framingham cardiovascular risk score, physical activity, dietary quality, body mass index, and sleep, on neurodegeneration, the impact of all 5 factors simultaneously in a multimodal model has not been studied. We examined independent associations and an overall combined model with 5 modifiable risk factors with white matter injury, a recognized risk factor for dementia, ≈10 years later in a diverse Hispanic/Latino population.

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Objectives: This study examined the associations between anxious-depression symptoms with cognitive change and prevalent mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos.

Methods: Participants were enrolled in the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA) and the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Anxiety and depression were measured at Visit 1 using the 10-item Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, with latent class analysis applied to derive anxious-depression phenotypes based on items from both scales.

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Background And Objectives: Although Hispanic/Latino populations in the United States are remarkably diverse in terms of birthplace and age at migration, we poorly understand how these factors are associated with cognitive aging. Our research seeks to operationalize a life course perspective of migration and health and contribute new understanding of Alzheimer's disease/Alzheimer's disease-related dementias among U.S.

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Article Synopsis
  • Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a risk factor for stroke and Alzheimer’s disease, particularly among Hispanic/Latino adults, highlighting the need for research on its impact on brain health in this demographic.
  • This study, based on the Hispanic Community Health Study, analyzed the association between SDB and brain MRI measures in a diverse group of Hispanic/Latino adults, using data from 2,667 participants with neuroimaging conducted about 10 years after initial sleep assessments.
  • Results indicated that higher respiratory event index (REI) correlated with larger hippocampal volumes, while lower oxygen levels during sleep were related to expanded white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes, suggesting complex relationships between SDB, oxygen
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Background And Objectives: Identifying predictors of dementia may help improve risk assessments, increase awareness for risk reduction, and identify potential targets for interventions. We use a life-course psychosocial multidisciplinary modeling framework to examine leading predictors of dementia incidence.

Research Design And Methods: We use data from the Health and Retirement Study to measure 57 psychosocial factors across 7 different domains: (i) demographics, (ii) childhood experiences, (iii) socioeconomic conditions, (iv) health behaviors, (v) social connections, (vi) psychological characteristics, and (vii) adverse adulthood experiences.

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Introduction: The potential utility of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) as an early risk marker of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias is under consideration. We examined associations between SCD and cognitive change among middle-aged and older Hispanic/Latino adults living in the United States.

Methods: The short-form Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog-12) was assessed to generate global, executive function, and memory-related SCD scores.

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Objective: Neuropsychological assessment among U.S. Arabic-speaking older adults is virtually non-existent due to lack of translated measures and normative data, as well as researchers' limited access to Middle Eastern/Arab Americans.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focused on the Hispanic/Latino population, one of the largest groups in the U.S. at high risk for dementia, examining how cognitive performance relates to brain health over time.
  • - Researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,000 participants across two visits, finding that lower scores in episodic and working memory were linked to more severe brain changes, like increased white matter hyperintensity and decreased hippocampal volume.
  • - The results suggest that understanding cognitive risk profiles in this group could help with early detection and intervention for neurodegenerative conditions, potentially influencing their progression.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines intracranial volume (ICV) among Hispanic and Latino adults, finding that it correlates with cognitive abilities later in life and has a heritability estimate of 19%.
  • Four of ten tested genetic variants showed a connection to ICV, with a genetic risk score linked to an increase of 10.37 cm in ICV.
  • Early life environmental factors, such as age of immigration and parental education, significantly impacted ICV; immigrating at age 11 or older was linked to a 24 cm reduction in ICV, while having at least one parent with a high school education was associated with a 15.4 cm increase.
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Article Synopsis
  • - We conducted a study on 7,140 Hispanic and Latino adults to identify genetic regions linked to cognitive abilities through admixture and fine-mapping analyses.
  • - We found nine regions in the genome associated with cognitive function, and three of these regions showed strong statistical evidence for supporting genes related to cognitive functioning and dementia.
  • - Our findings enhance the understanding of how ancestry influences cognitive abilities, showcasing the effectiveness of admixture mapping in identifying unique genetic variants relevant to cognitive function.
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Background And Objectives: Population aging has led to an increased interest in cognitive health and, in particular, the role that stress plays in cognitive disparities. This paper extends previous work by characterizing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) stress type prevalence and its association with cognitive health in metro-Detroit among Black, Middle Eastern/Arab (MENA), and White older adults.

Research Design And Methods: Data come from a regionally representative sample of adults aged 65+ in metro-Detroit (N = 600; MENA n = 199; Black n = 205; White n = 196).

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Introduction: conducted a study within the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos- Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (HCHS/SOL-INCA) cohort to examine the association between gut microbiome and cognitive function.

Methods: We analyzed the fecal metagenomes of 2,471 HCHS/SOL-INCA participants to, cross-sectionally, identify microbial taxonomic and functional features associated with global cognitive function. Omnibus (PERMANOVA) and feature-wise analyses (MaAsLin2) were conducted to identify microbiome-cognition associations, and specific microbial species and pathways (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG modules) associated with cognition.

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Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are highly prevalent among Hispanic/Latino adults, while the prevalence of MRI infarcts is not well-documented. We, therefore, sought to examine the relationships between CVD risk factors and infarcts with brain structure among Hispanic/Latino individuals.

Methods: Participants included 1,886 Hispanic/Latino adults (50-85 years) who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging-MRI (SOL-INCA-MRI) study.

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Background: Higher allostatic load (AL), a multi-system measure of physiological dysregulation considered a proxy for chronic stress exposure, is associated with poorer global cognition (GC) in older non-Hispanic white adults. However, evidence of these associations in middle-aged and older US-based Hispanic/Latino adults is limited.

Objective: To examine associations of AL with level of cognition, performance in cognition 7 years later, and change in cognition over 7 years among middle-aged and older US-based Hispanic/Latino adults.

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