African Americans are exposed to disproportionately high levels of psychosocial stress due to structural racism, economic inequality, residential segregation, and persistent discrimination, all of which contribute to chronic physiological strain and increased vulnerability to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Growing research in epigenetics suggests that these social stressors may become biologically embedded through DNA methylation, a mechanism sensitive to environmental conditions and linked to cardiovascular processes such as inflammation, atherosclerosis, and metabolic dysfunction. In this research project, I aim to investigate the effects of various stressors on African American individuals and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. 

     Specifically, I seek to understand the correlation between health disparities and cardiovascular disease in African Americans, with significant focus on the potential epigenetic changes that occur at the molecular level. Molecular indicators, such as DNA methylation, telomere shortening, and changes in protein expression can give insght into how health effects manifest within the African American diaspora across 
the United States.
 
     My research will navigate and interpret current and past literature pertaining to incidence of cardiovascular disease in African Americans, as well as draw correlation between possible molecular indicators of increased stress and cardiovascular diseases. My research seeks to call attention to the negative effects of racial discrimination (a type of psychosocial stressor) through presentation of the consequential molecular changes that have been found to be associated with cardiovascular complications. Additionally, this project seeks to provide possible solutions to the issue of racial health disparities and disproportionate prevalence of CVD amongst African Americans.