Project description
Linking heart health to Alzheimer’s risk
There is mounting evidence that heart-healthy practices may also protect the brain. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the BrainAtCardio project aims to investigate how early cardiovascular alterations may predispose people to Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers examine the effects of mild symptoms of atherosclerosis and other heart risk factors on brain structure, blood flow, and memory in middle-aged adults who do not exhibit any symptoms. The project will determine how heart health affects the earliest signs of neurodegeneration and why men and women may be affected differently, using cutting-edge brain imaging, blood biomarkers, and cognitive tests.
Objective
This project aims to investigate the early associations between cardiovascular health and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology, with a focus on subclinical atherosclerosis (SCAth) and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), in a large cohort of asymptomatic, middle-aged individuals. The overarching objective is to determine how cardiovascular health in subclinical stages influences both cerebrovascular integrity and early AD biomarkers, and to examine how these factors contribute to cognitive decline, with particular emphasis on sex-specific differences.
The proposed research leverages data from the PESA-Brain study, a deeply phenotyped cohort integrating advanced neuroimaging and cognitive testing, with longitudinal cardiovascular and blood-based biomarkers assessments. We will first test the relationships between cardiovascular health markers and cerebrovascular health, focusing on brain perfusion, microstructure, and microinfarcts. We will then explore the links between cardiovascular health and AD pathology, using plasma and brain amyloid and tau biomarkers, as well as cognitive outcomes, including memory and executive function.
The project will employ advanced statistical approaches, such as linear mixed models and mediation analysis, to handle the complexity of multimodal data and examine causal relationships between cardiovascular health, brain pathology, and cognition. By including sex-stratified analyses, the research will provide critical insights into gender-specific susceptibilities, which have been underexplored in previous studies.
The relevance of this project to the work programme lies in its potential to shift the focus of AD prevention to midlife, offering novel insights into the neurobiological pathways that link cardiovascular dysfunction and neurodegeneration. These findings could pave the way for earlier interventions targeting modifiable CVRFs, significantly reducing the incidence and societal burden of dementia in aging populations.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases arteriosclerosis
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology neurodegenerative diseases dementia
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
28029 Madrid
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.