Daily body clock patterns and dementia in Latino adults
Circadian Disturbance and Dementia in Latin America
This project looks at whether disrupted sleep-wake rhythms are linked to Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia in Latino adults aged 40–80.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11402418 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will use information from the ReDLat consortium, which includes over 3,000 Latino adults (ages 40–80) with Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, or no dementia. They will examine sleep and daily activity patterns using measures like wrist motion sensors (actigraphy), sleep questionnaires, and existing clinical tests already collected or planned for the cohort. The team will compare circadian patterns across dementia types and control participants to identify features tied to disease presence and severity. The work focuses on Latino populations across Latin America to find potentially modifiable sleep-related targets for prevention or symptom delay.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Latino adults aged 40–80 with diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal lobar degeneration, as well as similar-aged Latino control participants without dementia.
Not a fit: People who are not Latino, are younger than 40 or older than 80, or who do not have Alzheimer’s or FTLD are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify sleep and daily-rhythm changes that might be modified to help prevent or slow dementia in Latino communities.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies in North America and Europe have linked circadian disruption to cognitive decline, but applying these approaches to Latin American populations is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Kun — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Hu, Kun
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.