How ethnicity affects the ability of blood tests to predict Alzheimer's disease.
Official title: Impact of Ethnicity on the Utility of Plasma Amyloid and Tau to Predict Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11175484 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain blood markers can help predict Alzheimer's disease, especially in Hispanic and African American communities, to improve early detection and create better screening methods for these groups.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $534,938 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG088623-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11175484 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include Hispanic and African American individuals who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease or are experiencing cognitive decline.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not part of the Hispanic or African American populations may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how blood biomarkers, specifically phosphorylated tau and amyloid levels, can predict Alzheimer's disease in different ethnic groups, particularly Hispanic and African American populations. The study aims to establish accurate cut-off values for these biomarkers that are relevant to these groups, as previous research primarily focused on non-Hispanic white populations. By analyzing plasma samples from a diverse cohort, the research seeks to improve early detection of Alzheimer's disease and understand how these biomarkers relate to clinical outcomes like cognitive decline. This approach could lead to more tailored and effective screening methods for Alzheimer's disease in underrepresented populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate and culturally relevant methods for predicting Alzheimer's disease in diverse populations.
How similar studies have gone: While research on Alzheimer's biomarkers has been conducted, this specific focus on ethnic differences in biomarker utility is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rissman, Robert — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Rissman, Robert
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how brain activity changes may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression in a mouse model
Researchers are testing how changes in brain signals and protein cleanup processes affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
-
Thiamine-boosting therapy for Alzheimer’s: understanding how benfotiamine may reduce harmful AGE in DP patients
A medication-based approach using high-dose vitamin B1 (benfotiamine) is studied to help people with Alzheimer's by reducing harmful sugar-related molecules.
-
Non-invasive tears biomarker for early Alzheimer's in LMICs
A low-cost, tear-based biomarker approach aims to detect early Alzheimer’s disease in older adults in Peru and similar settings.
-
Turning APOE4 into protective APOE2 or APOE3Christchurch to help with Alzheimer’s
A patient-facing explanation of a treatment idea that aims to change a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in the brain.
-
Telomerase in Alzheimer’s Disease: how aging biology could influence memory and brain health
Researchers are exploring a new brain-aging mechanism linked to telomerase, with potential to slow or modify Alzheimer’s disease in people and improve cognitive function.
-
Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: Sensory, Motor, and Cognitive Clues
Researchers are testing simple sensory and movement tasks to find early signs of Alzheimer’s disease so they can diagnose and treat people sooner.
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.