Why do nearly twice as many Black women die from uterine cancer than white women?
Uterine cancer death rates between Black and white women have greatly increased over the past 10 years. Research shows there may be a variety of reasons why there is such a gap. One of these reasons is due to differences in tumor biology, but social determinants of health also play a large role. Income disparities, lack of insurance coverage, and the inability to access timely, high-quality care can also impact health outcomes.
Unfortunately, most existing studies only focus on a single cause for this wide difference in death rates — and fail to consider how these factors may interact to impact women’s survival. The goal of this study is to understand how all of these factors interconnect to result in such highly unequal death rates from uterine cancer. Using the Neighborhood Deprivation Index — a database that measures how longstanding structural inequities present barriers to achieving good health — scientists will seek to understand how factors such as unemployment and poverty (among other inequities) may affect uterine cancer death rates. These scientists’ goal is to learn what could be changed to reduce this growing racial difference in women’s survival from uterine cancer and to improve outcomes for Black women facing uterine cancer.
Understanding the risks and management of aortic aneurysm in people from all ancestries
The aorta is the largest human blood vessel. It delivers oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. An aneurysm is a bulge in any artery. Aortic aneurysms (AA) happen when a bulge forms in the wall of the aorta. If an AA is left untreated and bursts, it leads to death in over 90 percent of people within 48 hours. If identified early, smaller aneurysms can be treated with medication. For larger AAs, surgery is the only effective treatment to prevent bursting. Older age, high blood pressure, and smoking increase the risk and severity of AAs.
Recent studies have shown that there are some genetic risk factors for AAs in people with European ancestry, but there are likely more genetic factors involved. Polygenic risk scores are a promising new way to predict AAs in people with European ancestry, but since they only predict risk in a specific population of people, their scope of usefulness is limited. Surprisingly, research shows that taking medications for diabetes may provide some protection against aneurysm formation, though the reasons are not yet fully understood. Medications used to manage blood pressure and cholesterol may also influence AA risk. In this study, scientists will use KP Research Bank data to explore how genetic and environmental factors, along with various types of medications, affect AAs in people from various ancestries across the globe. The long-term goal is to provide evidence that can lead to more effective, inclusive strategies for preventing and treating aortic aneurysms.
How does drinking alcohol affect the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia?
This study is part of a 4-part effort to understand how different factors influence the likelihood of someone developing Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. These are the factors researchers will be looking at: (1) drinking alcohol; (2) having depression, depression treatment, and/or chronic pain; (3) receiving treatment or not receiving treatment for vision and/or hearing impairments; and (4) experiencing social isolation. Because so many adults drink alcohol, if any amount of drinking is associated with even a small increase or decrease in dementia risk, understanding this risk could have a large impact on people’s decisions about drinking.
Previous studies on alcohol use and dementia have led to mixed and sometimes unreliable results. This study, using new data from the KP Research Bank and studies on alcohol use in the United States and the UK, aims to provide more accurate estimates of the impact of how alcohol use affects the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. This study, based on new data from the KP Research Bank and existing studies on alcohol use in the United States and the UK, aims to provide the best possible estimates whether people develop Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia based on alcohol use.
Polygenic risk scores, PTSD, and other trauma-related mental health conditions
In any one year in the United States, about 5 percent of all adults experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, many more people experience various types of trauma that can lead to other mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression. This study will expand existing scientific knowledge to better understand how polygenic risk scores could eventually help improve prevention and treatment for individuals with trauma-related mental health issues.
KP Research Bank scientists will continue and deepen this work to better understand how a person’s genetic makeup influences their risk of developing trauma-related mental health conditions after experiencing trauma.
Using genetic information and mental health diagnoses from the KP Research Bank and combined findings with similar global research efforts, investigators hope to better understand how a person’s genetic makeup affects how likely it is that they will develop a trauma-related mental health condition. The long-term goal is to develop reliable polygenic risk scores that clinicians can use to better identify, diagnose, and treat people who suffer from trauma-related mental health conditions.
