WSU Institute of Gerontology is pleased to present:

Samuele Zilioli, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Family Medicine, & Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit MI

ABSTRACT:
Research on racial disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) has primarily focused on proximate risks factors (e.g., diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking) and their disproportionate incidence among African Americans. Only recently researchers have started to consider the role of more distal risk factors, such as psychosocial stressors.

Launched in 2021, The Heart of Detroit Study (THDS) leverages a mixed-methods approach to grapple with the uniqueness and complexity of psychosocial stressors faced by African American middle-aged and older adults. Its promise is to generate new knowledge relevant to CVD causal pathways and instrumental in guiding the design of behavioral interventions to reduce racial disparities in CVD risk. In this talk, I will briefly describe the research design of THDS and present data from previously conducted studies among Detroiters that support the aims and approach of THDS.

ZOOM HERE