Genetic clues for Alzheimer’s in Jewish and Arab communities
Official title: Genetic Studies of Alzheimer's Disease in Jewish and Arab Populations
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11596647 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study genetic factors linked to Alzheimer’s disease in Jewish and Arab populations to uncover variants that may influence risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $119,340 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AG081230-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11596647 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals of Jewish or Middle Eastern ancestry living in Israel or those connected to MENA Jewish populations who may contribute DNA/genetic data.
✕Less likely to help
People without Alzheimer’s risk variants identified or without collaboration in genetic studies may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at people with Jewish ancestry from Israel and compares their genetic data to find clues about Alzheimer’s risk. By focusing on more genetically uniform groups, researchers hope to identify variants that may be missed in broader studies. The work will use genome-wide analyses and look at how environmental and lifestyle factors interact with genetics. Findings could point to new targets for prevention or treatment that are relevant to these communities and potentially others with similar ancestry.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could highlight new genetic risk factors and pathways for Alzheimer’s, informing personalized risk assessment and future therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in non-European populations has identified distinct AD variants and benefited from multi-ethnic analyses, supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Farrer, Lindsay a. — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Farrer, Lindsay a.
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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.