Genetic clues to 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-11596648 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for genetic factors linked to Alzheimer’s disease in Jews from Israel and Arabs living in the region to understand why some people are at higher 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) | $43,740 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AG081230-04S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11596648 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are individuals of Jewish descent from the Middle East and North Africa living in Israel, or related cohorts, who may share genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without the relevant ancestry profile or those not at risk for Alzheimer’s may experience no direct benefit from the study.
What this research studies
Researchers will study the DNA of people from Jewish and Arab populations to identify genetic variants that influence Alzheimer’s risk. The study uses collaboration across clinicians and scientists to analyze how ancestry and environment together shape disease risk. Findings could highlight new genetic markers and pathways that may become targets for future therapies or risk prediction, with an emphasis on diverse populations often underrepresented in research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could lead to new information that helps tailor prevention and treatment strategies for diverse communities affected by Alzheimer’s.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in non-European populations has identified unique variants and informed broader genetic insights into Alzheimer’s.
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.