How childhood and lifelong poverty may raise dementia risk in Hispanic/Latino adults
Early and life course socioeconomic adversity and dementia risk in Hispanics/Latinos
This project looks at whether growing up poor and staying poor across life is linked to brain changes and higher Alzheimer's and dementia risk for Hispanic/Latino adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11297562 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a participant's perspective, researchers will use data from the Study of Latinos Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL INCA), including repeated cognitive tests and brain MRI scans, to connect early-life and life-course socioeconomic hardship with later brain changes and dementia. They will measure hippocampal and overall gray matter volumes, consider vascular health and socio-cultural factors, and include genetic markers like APOE-ε4 to explore biological pathways. The work leverages a large, well-characterized Hispanic/Latino cohort with long-term follow-up to trace how poverty-related exposures over the life course influence cognitive decline.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are Hispanic/Latino adults with histories of childhood or sustained socioeconomic adversity who are enrolled in or eligible for the SOL INCA/Study of Latinos cohort.
Not a fit: People who are not Hispanic/Latino, lack information on early-life socioeconomic conditions, or are seeking immediate clinical treatment will likely receive no direct benefit from this observational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal social and biological points for preventing or delaying dementia in Hispanic/Latino communities by showing when and how poverty harms the brain.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked early-life disadvantage to lower cognitive performance and smaller brain volumes, but combining life-course socioeconomic data, MRI, and genetics specifically in Hispanic/Latino cohorts is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Isasi, Carmen R. — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Isasi, Carmen R.
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.