Cognitive Health Study

The BWHS has funding from the National Institute on Aging to study factors that may impact cognitive decline (changes in thinking and memory as one ages) in BWHS participants. For reasons that are not well understood, studies suggest that older Black women are more likely to have cognitive impairment and a higher risk of dementia than other American women. The BWHS is conducting a five-year study to measure cognition annually and understand factors associated with changes in cognition over time. Recruitment for this study is completed, with 2,500 BWHS participants now being contacted for a 2nd of five planned cognitive interviews. The annual cognitive interview data together with BWHS questionnaires sent every two years since 1995 and biomarkers measured in blood samples will be used to identify factors that may influence cognitive aging. This information will help to guide future prevention and treatment programs aimed specifically at improving Black women’s cognitive health. We will share results from this study on our website and in our newsletters.

Enrollment: Closed
Data Collection/Interviews: Ongoing
Data Analysis: Ongoing