How ethnicity affects the ability of blood tests to predict Alzheimer's disease.

Impact of Ethnicity on the Utility of Plasma Amyloid and Tau to Predict Alzheimer's Disease

NIH-funded research University of Southern California · NIH-11175484

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Southern California NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11175484 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include Hispanic and African American individuals who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease or are experiencing cognitive decline.

Not a fit: Patients who are not part of the Hispanic or African American populations may not receive direct benefits from this research.

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 performed: 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

Los Angeles, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.