Genetics of Alzheimer's in Latino communities
GLASS-AD: Global Latinos Sequencing Study for Alzheimer's Disease
This project uses whole-genome sequencing to find genetic differences linked to Alzheimer's disease in Hispanic/Latino people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11397672 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to provide a DNA sample and health information so researchers can do whole-genome sequencing on about 6,000 Hispanic/Latino participants. The team will include 4,000 participants from an ongoing U.S. recruitment effort and 2,000 new participants from Peru and Bolivia, and they will combine these data with other Latino cohorts to find rare genetic variants tied to Alzheimer's. Researchers will account for mixed ancestry (European, African, Native American) to better understand risk across diverse backgrounds and may include clinical information and follow-up visits. The aim is to uncover risk and protective genetic factors that have been missed because Latino and other admixed groups have been underrepresented.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who identify as Hispanic/Latino (including those with mixed European, African, and Native American ancestry) who can provide a DNA sample and clinical or cognitive information, including those with Alzheimer's or related cognitive impairment.
Not a fit: People who are not of Hispanic/Latino ancestry, cannot give a DNA sample or health data, or who need immediate treatment changes are unlikely to directly benefit from this genetics-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal genetic risk or protective factors specific to Latino populations that help guide earlier diagnosis, prevention strategies, or future targeted therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Large sequencing efforts have identified Alzheimer-related genes in mainly European-ancestry groups, but studies specifically focused on Hispanic/Latino and other admixed populations are limited, so this work is an important and partly novel expansion.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tosto, Giuseppe — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Tosto, Giuseppe
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.