Diversity supplement to R00AG071838: Well-being as a Protective Factoragainst Cognitive Decline and Dementia

Washington University, Saint Louis MO

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Project Summary This administrative supplement will provide an 18-month postbaccalaureate research training and mentorship program for Ms. Payton Rule under the parent project R00AG071838: Well- being as a Protective Factor against Cognitive Decline and Dementia (PI: Dr. Willlroth). Ms. Rule received her undergraduate degree in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis in May of 2022 and has been working with Dr. Willroth and Dr. Patrick Hill as a part-time lab manager since then. Ms. Rule’s ultimate goal is to study well- being and resilience among people aging with disability/chronic illness. In line with her career goals to investigate well-being and resilience in people with disabilities, Ms. Rule will examine well-being as a protective factor that disrupts bidirectional associations between mobility disability and cognitive decline. The supplement aims will be addressed by examining two datasets, Rush MAP and MARS, which both address mobility disability utilizing the Rosow- Breslau scale. Similar to the parent R00, multiple longitudinal structural equation models will be employed to to examine potential bidirectional associations between mobility disability and cognitive decline. Furthermore, various types of well-being will be introduced as moderators to test whether higher levels of certain types of well-being may mitigate the strength of the association between mobility disability and cognitive decline. This supplement will also address career training goals for Ms. Rule, including quantitative methods, scientific manuscript and grant writing, and expertise in cognitive aging and disability studies. The aims of the supplement address the NIH goals of promoting diversity in scientific research and will strongly enhance Ms. Rule’s career development within the field.