Alzheimer's research cohort for Asian American and Canadian communities

Asian Cohort for Alzheimer's Disease (ACAD)

NIH-funded research University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11391616

Collect genetic data and blood biomarkers from older adults of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese ancestry to improve knowledge about Alzheimer's risk in these communities.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pennsylvania NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-11391616 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would join a large effort to bring together people of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese background across the US and Canada to learn more about Alzheimer's. The team plans to enroll about 5,081 participants aged 60 or older through community health providers and long-term care facilities. Participants give a blood sample for DNA and plasma biomarker testing and complete health and cognitive questionnaires using validated translated forms. The goal is to fill gaps in Alzheimer's genetic knowledge for Asian American communities and support better future care and research.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are adults aged 60 or older of Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese ancestry living in the US or Canada who can provide a blood sample and share medical and cognitive information.

Not a fit: People younger than 60, those not of the targeted Asian ancestries, or those unwilling to give blood or health information are unlikely to benefit directly from joining this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal genetic and biomarker patterns that help predict Alzheimer’s risk and lead to more tailored prevention or treatment for Asian ancestry populations.

How similar studies have performed: Large genetic studies in mainly European populations have found many Alzheimer’s risk genes, but comparable large U.S./Canadian Asian cohorts are rare, so this approach is partly proven yet novel for these communities.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementiaAlzheimer syndromeAlzheimer's Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.