Healthy aging in Black adults and its links to dementia risk
Official title: Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11516291 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant follows a large group of Black adults to understand how aging, brain health, and life experiences influence Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $4,846,901 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG050782-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11516291 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults and older adults who are Black/African American and are long-term members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, with a focus on those willing to participate in follow-up assessments and brain imaging when eligible.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who choose not to participate or who are not eligible for follow-up assessments or MRI may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
STAR tracks cognitive aging in middle-aged and older Black individuals who have long-term health care through Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. It builds rich clinical, lifestyle, and brain imaging data over time to identify factors that may protect against or contribute to dementia. The study connects early-life and health records with current brain and behavioral measures to look for predictors of cognitive decline and brain injury. Participants may contribute by continuing to enroll, complete surveys, and undergo neuropsychological tests and MRI when eligible. Findings aim to inform personalized prevention strategies for ADRD in Black communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to earlier identification of those at risk and more tailored strategies to protect brain health in African American populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous cycles have enrolled hundreds of participants and generated important insights into cognitive aging in Black populations, highlighting the value of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Whitmer, Rachel a — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Whitmer, Rachel 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.