In addition, Rush researchers have already been funded by the NIH to conduct a whole genome scan on participants from both studies. Thus, they will be able to examine the interaction between genetic variation and epigenetic marks on cognition and life experiences. Rush is collaborating with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Universty to conduct the genome-wide genotyping and epigenome wide scans.

Recent major advances in technology allow the scientists to look at one million genetic variations in a single human's DNA using a simple blood sample and tens of thousands of epigenomic marks across the genome with a small piece of brain tissue.

A third set of analyses will examine the relation of epigenetic marks to measures of Alzheimer's disease, cerebrovascular disease and Lewy body disease found in the brain.

"Together, this integrative study represents a timely, novel and powerful approach that will transform our understanding of epigenetic contributions to age-related loss of cognition and dementia," said Bennett. "We are not aware of any other studies of older men and women of comparable size, relevant life experience, clinical data, and follow-up and autopsy rates, in which these analyses can be performed.

The grants were awarded as part of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research's Epigenomics Program. Approximately $62 million will be awarded over the next five years to study the epigenome in a number of diseases and conditions. The Roadmap is a series of initiatives designed to pursue major opportunities and gaps in biomedical research that no single NIH institute could tackle alone, but which the agency as a whole can address to make the biggest impact possible on the progress of medical research.

Source: Rush University Medical Center