How body-clock (circadian) disruption relates to dementia in Latin American adults
Circadian Disturbance and Dementia in Latin America
This project looks at whether disruptions in daily sleep and activity rhythms are linked to Alzheimer’s and related dementias in Latino adults aged 40–80.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11402416 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be represented in a large group of over 3,000 Latino adults from the ReDLat consortium, including people with Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and people without dementia. The research team will analyze sleep and daily activity patterns (circadian rhythms) together with clinical tests and genetic markers such as APOE-ε4. They will compare rhythm patterns across the three groups and across Latin American sites to identify circadian problems that may speed cognitive decline. The project mainly uses existing participant data and samples collected by ReDLat rather than testing a new treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Latino adults aged 40–80 who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal dementia, or who are enrolled as cognitively unimpaired controls in ReDLat sites.
Not a fit: People who are not Latino, are outside the 40–80 age range, or who do not have sleep/circadian data available are less likely to be affected by this project's findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to modifiable daily habits or sleep-related targets to help prevent or delay dementia, especially in Latin American populations.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies in the US and Europe have linked disrupted circadian rhythms to cognitive decline, but applying these findings to Latin American populations is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Kun — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Hu, Kun
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.