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Francine Grodstein, Sc.D.

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Overview
My research focuses on healthy aging, particularly in women. My primary research base is the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS). During the past 10 years, I have independently established a study of cognitive function among elderly participants of the Nurses’ Health Study. This has developed into one of the largest existing studies of cognition, with several repeated measures of function in 20,000 women aged 70 years and over. In addition, the success of this project led to funding to incorporate cognitive testing into three large-scale randomized clinical trials of cardiovascular disease prevention (the Women’s Health Study, the Women’s Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study, and Physicians’ Health Study II with a total of 16,000 participants in the cognitive cohort). This work encompasses a large variety of research topics, from identifying lifestyle and dietary factors that influence cognition to exploring biomarkers to predict eventual risk of cognitive impairment. Major publications from this work (in JAMA, New England Journal of Medicine, British Medical Journal) have made substantial contributions to the field.

Numerous trainees have developed their research careers via this cognitive study. Specifically, I am currently mentoring one doctoral student, one postdoctoral fellow, and two junior faculty members in evaluating the effects on cognition of plasma insulin, plasma amyloid beta, plasma IGF, genetic factors, and folate. In addition, one doctoral student who completed her training with me is currently a postdoctoral fellow (at HSPPH) and two postdoctoral fellows who completed their training with me have progressed to junior faculty positions (at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and at HMS).

I have also initiated a study of risk factors for incontinence in the Nurses’ Health Study. Incontinence is a common problem in older women, with important public health consequences, yet little is known about its epidemiology or prevention. I have designed a self-reported questionnaire to identify urinary incontinence in the NHS participants and have received funding from NIH to conduct this investigation. A postdoctoral fellow and a doctoral student are exploring risk factors for incontinence, such as body mass index, type 2 diabetes , cigarette smoking, and is also examining incidence rates of incontinence, which have not been tracked in any large population-based studies.

Mentoring
Comparison of risk factors for cognitive decline across cancer survivors and women with no cancer history in the Nurses' Health Study
Summer, 06/18/12 - 08/20/12

Research
The research activities and funding listed below are automatically derived from NIH ExPORTER and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing items. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
  1. R01AG079226 (GRODSTEIN, FRANCINE) Sep 30, 2022 - Jun 30, 2027
    NIH
    Use of Healthcare Across the Full Continuum of Cognitive Health and Decline in Older Adults
    Role: Principal Investigator
  2. R01AG069904 (GRODSTEIN, FRANCINE) Aug 1, 2021 - Apr 30, 2027
    NIH
    A Novel Epigenetic Clock for Brain Aging
    Role: Principal Investigator
  3. R01AG053273 (KUBZANSKY, LAURA D) Sep 1, 2016 - Mar 31, 2021
    NIH
    Optimism and Exceptional Longevity
    Role: Principal Investigator
  4. R01DK105050 (GRODSTEIN, FRANCINE) Jun 1, 2016 - Dec 29, 2019
    NIH
    Urinary Incontinence Epidemiology and Care Seeking
    Role: Principal Investigator
  5. R21MH102570 (KOENEN, KARESTAN C) Sep 2, 2014 - Aug 31, 2017
    NIH
    Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Cognitive Decline in Women
    Role: Principal Investigator

Bibliographic
Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
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Funded by the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through its Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program, grant number UL1TR002541.