Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive deterioration. It affects approximately 34 million people worldwide, yet reliable, early prediction methods remain elusive. Prior research has implicated the impact of sleep disturbance on cognitive decline and AD pathophysiology. However, few studies have explored the genetic correlation between sleep disturbance and cognitive function in the context of AD, especially among non-European populations. To address these research gaps, the proposed 2-year research will employ bioinformatic and computational techniques to analyze multidimensional datasets to further understand the unique and shared genetic variants that contribute to sleep disturbance and cognitive function in AD. Aim 1 will leverage large-scale datasets from the UK and the US to investigate the genetic correlation between sleep disturbance and cognitive function in AD across diverse ancestries using genome-wide associational studies. Aim 2 will use longitudinal data from NIH and assess the degree to which sleep predicts cognitive deterioration and conversion to AD in older adults (based on genetic profiles). This exploration of the genetic correlation between sleep disturbance and cognitive function in AD will inform future research to improve early detection of AD risk in individuals with pre-clinical symptoms and prediction of cognitive deterioration through AD development and progression. The proposed study, along with its associated research training, will establish a robust foundation for the applicant with an innovative nursing research program. Ultimately, it will inform the early prediction and detection of AD and provides insights for design of AD preventions and treatments.
