Researchers Develop Improved Measure of Genetic Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease
August 27, 2026 Boston University researchers, including Framingham Heart Study Brain Aging Program investigator Lindsay A. Farrer, PhD, have developed and validated a new multi-ancestry polygenic risk score (PRS) for Alzheimer’s disease that improves risk prediction across diverse ancestral populations. The study, published in Nature Genetics, used genetic data from diverse populations to create a […]
FHS-BAP Receives $31.5 Million NIA Funding Renewal
The Framingham Heart Study Brain Aging Program (FHS-BAP) has received a $31.5 million, five-year funding renewal from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to continue and expand research on brain aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and related dementias. The renewal builds on decades of longitudinal data from the Framingham Heart Study, allowing researchers to investigate how cognitive […]
Research on Tap: The Framingham Heart Study — Three Generations, 78 Years of Data, and More to Discover
We are proud to be featured in Boston University’s Research on Tap series, spotlighting the enduring legacy and ongoing impact of the Framingham Heart Study. This landmark longitudinal study — now spanning 78 years, three generations, more than 15,000 participants, and over 2 million biosamples — has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of cardiovascular disease and […]
Health Economics Mini-Symposium on AD/ADRD Research
Boston University, in collaboration with the National Bureau of Economic Research Coordinating Center on the Economics of Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease–Related Dementias (AD/ADRD), will host a Health Economics of AD/ADRD Mini-Symposium on Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 1:00–2:30 PM (ET). This virtual session, titled “What Am I Missing in ADRD Research that Should […]
Register Now: 6th Annual FHS Brain Aging Program Symposium
The Boston University Framingham Heart Study Brain Aging Program is pleased to announce its 6th Annual Symposium, taking place virtually on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, from 12:00–4:00 PM (EST). This year’s theme, “Transforming Brain Health: Digital Approaches in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias,” will spotlight cutting-edge research at the intersection of technology and brain health. […]
Framingham Heart Study Brain Aging Program to Host Clinical Neuropathology Case Conference
The Framingham Heart Study Brain Aging Program will host its upcoming Clinical Neuropathology Case Conference on April 10, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This interactive session, organized by the program’s Clinical and Neuropathology Cores, will feature four compelling cases highlighting clinical history, neuroimaging, and neuropathological findings. Each case will explore the alignment—and at […]
How the Framingham Heart Study Has Revolutionized Healthcare — 10 Groundbreaking Moments
The Framingham Heart Study, led by Boston University, has been reshaping how the world understands heart disease, brain aging, and human health for over 78 years — and a major new feature in BU’s The Brink highlights just how profound that impact has been. The article spotlights 10 of the study’s most groundbreaking contributions to […]
Dr. Rhoda Au Co-Authors Landmark Study on AI and Multi-Modal Digital Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Detection
Our own Dr. Rhoda Au is at the forefront of a major shift in how Alzheimer’s disease may one day be detected — earlier, more accurately, and right from a smartphone. A study published in the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease (Volume 13, January 2026), co-authored by Dr. Au, examines how digital technologies are […]
Digital neuropsychological measures by defense automated neurocognitive assessment: reference values and clinical correlates
Abstract Introduction: Although the growth of digital tools for cognitive health assessment, there’s a lack of known reference values and clinical implications for these digital methods. This study aims to establish reference values for digital neuropsychological measures obtained through the smartphone-based cognitive assessment application, Defense Automated Neurocognitive Assessment (DANA), and to identify clinical risk factors associated […]
APOE genotype-specific methylation patterns are linked to Alzheimer disease pathology and estrogen response
Abstract The joint effects of APOE genotype and DNA methylation on Alzheimer disease (AD) risk is relatively unknown. We conducted genome-wide methylation analyses using 2,021 samples in blood (91 AD cases, 329 mild cognitive impairment, 1,391 controls) and 697 samples in brain (417 AD cases, 280 controls). We identified differentially methylated levels in AD compared […]