Early life history, genetic predisposition, lifestyle and sociodemographic
predictors of later life cortical atrophy and cognitive change: A multi-modal 
   Lead Investigator:    Sarah Bauermeister
   Institution      :    University of Oxford
   E-Mail           :    sarah.bauermeister@psych.ox.ac.uk
   Proposal ID      :    1393



   Proposal Description:
   This study will investigate the associations between early life history which  includes brain trauma and later life multi-modal cognitive and cortical outcomes. It will also  assess a mediation effect of genetics (e.g., APOE) and lifestyle (socioeconomic status, occupation,  physical/mental/intellectual activity) on these outcomes. Experiencing a brain injury may lead to mild  cognitive impairment and later life dementia.     Our interest is whether later life lifestyle and occupation might mediate the effects of early brain injury or whether later life sociodemographic factors and lifestyle are an outcome of previous brain injury in a cascade effect which is associated with laterlife cognitive decline and dementia.  Furthermore, we are interested in how  genetic predisposition might interact with this relationship. Using multi-modal data in a single analysis  with multi-methodologies, we aim to extensively explore these relationships and mechanistic pathways.           Aims:     1.       To investigate causal and bi-causal effects of earlier brain injury on later life cognitive change and dementia.     2.       To investigate the multi-modal outcomes of early brain injury on later life cognitive change and dementia.     3.       To explore the interaction effects of APOE status on the effects of earlier brain injury x later life cognition/dementia x APOE