Current Studies

The CARDIA-COG study will investigate the midlife to early-to late-life transition to AD/ADRD, the mechanistic pathways behind these changes, SDOH influences, and the underpinnings of differences in AD/ADRD by race and sex.

P.I.(s):  Kristine Yaffe, MD

The UCSF Pop-BRAIN platform accelerates population-based Alzheimer’s and dementia (ADRD) research, emphasizing a life-course approach across populations, linking the exposome, social determinants, and biological pathways.

P.I.: Kristine Yaffe, MD

This study investigates hypertension and ADRD risk in US veterans. It examines military exposures like TBI and PTSD. Dr. Yaffe's team will evaluate how treatment targets reduce risk to inform prevention.

P.I.: Kristine Yaffe, MD | Adina Zeki Al Hazzouri, PhD | Sebastian Calonico, PhD

This project uses the HABLE study to evaluate sleep quality and ADRD risk among Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites, identifying the specific pathways linking them.

P.I.(s): Kristine Yaffe, MD | Sid O'Bryant, PhD

This project investigates blood mitochondrial DNA mutations as a biomarker for midlife cognitive decline, accelerated brain aging, and late-life ADRD diagnosis.

P.I.(s): Kristine Yaffe, MD | Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD | Lifang Hou, MD, MS, PhD

The HABS-HD study examines brain biology and AD/ADRD across diverse populations. It is the first large-scale study of Amyloid/Tau/Neurodegeneration biomarkers in a community cohort.

P.I.(s): Kristine Yaffe, MD | Sid O'Bryant, PhD | Arthur W. Toga, PhD

The goal of this project is to study risk and resiliency factors for ADRD in American Indian and Alaskan Native adults while also examining the complex role of social determinants of health.

P.I.: Kristine Yaffe, MD

The TRAIN-Vets randomized trial, with the Palo Alto VA, evaluates a multidomain cognitive training program for older veterans with TBI and cognitive complaints to inform future clinical guidelines.

P.I.(s): Kristine Yaffe, MD

This study investigates long-term environmental toxicant exposure and ADRD. Using multi-omic analyses, it traces toxicant impacts on cognitive decline and brain structure while incorporating social determinants of health.

P.I.(s): Kristine Yaffe, MD |  Aimin Chen, MD, PhD | Lifang Hou, MD, PhD | Dean Paul Jones, PhD

This project supports the CARE program by developing female-specific dementia risk estimates and prediction models. This work will guide risk score implementation and identify new prevention strategies.

P.I.(s): Kristine Yaffe, MD |  Kaarin J. Anstey, PhD

The LIMBIC epidemiological study leverages a 2-million veteran repository to examine long-term neurodegenerative outcomes of mild TBI. This multi-center collaboration links the DoD, VA, academia, and private institutes to fill gaps in basic science, risks, and treatments.

P.I.(s): Kristine Yaffe, MD | David Cifu, MD

The SMARRT study is the first U.S. randomized trial testing a personalized, multi-domain Alzheimer's risk-reduction intervention to determine if it slows cognitive decline in higher-risk patients. We are now following up on SMARRT participants to assess outcomes 3-4 years after the trial.

P.I.(s): Kristine Yaffe, MD | Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH

The goal of this project is to investigate the effects and interactions of military risk factors and social determinants of health on the risk of dementia. Our main focuses are Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as various medical comorbidities.

P.I.: Kristine Yaffe, MD