James M. Noble, MD, MS, CPH, FAAN

The Noble Lifecourse Program is an epidemiologically focused research initiative with projects framed by 3 main goals: a) identifying and creating novel and innovative approaches to complex neurological problems, b) providing expertise in clinical fields and the communities they impact and c) identifying and mitigating significant health disparities. Projects are recognized for addressing difficult problems using outside-the-box, yet data-driven scientifically-grounded, approaches.

Research Overview

Dr. Noble’s primary and active areas of research interest in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) include potentially modifiable lifecourse risk factors, including the roles of infection and inflammation (PI: R01 AG076015) as well as chronic exposures to traumatic brain injury. Dr. Noble has developed a group of multigenerational community-based education programs aiming to increase access to neurological care in minority communities along with novel community outreach wellness interventions. He is the clinical core director of the Columbia ADRC (P30 AG066462) and The Diabetes Prevention Project Outcome Study (U19 AG078558).

Through this and other studies he has worked with and/or has access to various databases including the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network, and New York SPARCS, among others.

Locally-based projects available for study include the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project Ancillary Study of Oral Health and the Columbia University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center clinical cohort.

Dr. Noble often works with trainees at various levels including medical students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty.

Current mentored projects include:

• 2023-24 Adolescents Caring for Community by Promoting Literacy on Insurance, Stroke, Health Education, Emergencies, and Dementia (ACComPLISHED) Community Health Worker (CHW) Program: Project Lead: Paul Lewis (VP&S 4th year student)
• 2023-24: Perspectives on medical retirement from sport after concussion: a survey of Big Ten and Ivy League physicians and athletic trainers: Project Lead: William Savage (VP&S 3rd year student)
• 2022-24: The impact on concussion care-seeking behavior among adolescents relative to the COVID-19 pandemic: Project Lead: Dr. Arielle Lehman (CUIMC Neurology resident)
• 2022-24: The epidemiology of co-incident dementia and epilepsy in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) cohort: Project Lead: Dr. Ndbuisi Mark Chikwem (CUIMC Aging & Dementia/Neuroepidemiology fellow)
• Additionally, Dr. Noble is the author of the dementia caregiver handbook Navigating Life with Dementia (2022, American Academy of Neurology/Oxford University Press) and co-editor of the standard neurology text Merritt’s Neurology (2021, 14th edition, Wolters-Kluwer).