How Historically Black Colleges and Universities affect memory and thinking skills in older Black adults
Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities on Late-life Cognition in Black Adults
This research explores how attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities might influence memory and thinking abilities later in life for Black adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11164748 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are a major health concern, especially for Black adults who experience nearly double the prevalence compared to White adults. While higher education often lowers ADRD risk, this benefit doesn't fully close the gap for Black individuals. This project looks at the unique experiences of attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to understand if these environments offer specific protective factors against ADRD. We want to learn how these institutions, which empower Black individuals and communities, might contribute to better brain health as people age.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant for Black adults interested in understanding how educational experiences, particularly at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, might affect brain health later in life.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate medical treatment or direct intervention for existing Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may not directly benefit from this observational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could highlight unique protective factors within HBCU experiences that could inform strategies to reduce Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disparities in Black adults.
How similar studies have performed: While higher education is known to be a protective factor against dementia, this specific focus on the unique impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities on late-life cognition in Black adults represents a novel area of inquiry.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomas, Marilyn D — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Thomas, Marilyn D
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.