Hearing loss and Alzheimer's risk in Latino older adults
Official title: Study of Latinos- Hearing and Alzheimer's among Latino Older Adults
Funded at San Diego State University · NIH-11431316 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to see whether treating hearing loss in older Latinos can help protect brain health and reduce dementia risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,835,148 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG103732-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11431316 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with or without ADRD risk factors, particularly those in the Latino older adult population enrolled in the HCHS/SOL cohort.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not in the study population or without hearing loss or cognitive concerns may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will add hearing tests to a large Latino aging study to see how hearing loss relates to brain changes and thinking skills over time. Researchers will use existing data from multiple sites, plus new hearing assessments and MRI information, to track who develops cognitive problems. The goal is to understand if early hearing loss treatment could influence the progression of Alzheimer’s- related changes and memory. Participants will contribute by undergoing hearing testing, brain imaging, and cognitive assessments as part of a long-term observational study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform prevention strategies and help tailor interventions to reduce dementia risk in older adults with hearing loss.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests links between hearing loss and cognitive decline, but this project adds longitudinal, multi-modal brain data in a specific Latino population.
Where this research is happening
-
San Diego State University
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stickel, Ariana — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Stickel, Ariana
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.