Heart rhythm and brain aging in Hispanic/Latino adults
Cognitive Aging Brain Morphology and Arrhythmias in Hispanics/Latinos: Implications for Prevention and Management of Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias
Researchers will use a small wearable heart monitor and brain imaging to understand how irregular heart rhythms relate to memory loss risk in Hispanic/Latino adults aged 45 and older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11377010 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll wear a small, non-invasive patch that records your heart rhythm continuously for several days and those recordings will be linked to brain scans and memory tests already collected in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). The team will look for patterns showing whether arrhythmias relate to changes in brain structure or declines in thinking and memory. They will also combine information about lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors to see if healthier habits may reduce any arrhythmia-related dementia risk. About 5,000 HCHS/SOL participants age 45 and older are being offered the wearable monitor during the 2022–2024 rollout.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Hispanic/Latino adults aged 45 years or older who are enrolled in the HCHS/SOL cohort and are willing to wear a continuous ECG patch and share brain imaging and health data.
Not a fit: People who are not Hispanic/Latino, younger than 45, not enrolled in HCHS/SOL, or unable to undergo monitoring or imaging are unlikely to be eligible or see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify people whose irregular heart rhythms raise dementia risk so clinicians can target prevention and personalized care earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked arrhythmias to poorer cognition and higher dementia risk, but using large-scale wearable heart monitors tied to brain imaging in Hispanic/Latino adults is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Lin Yee — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Chen, Lin Yee
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.