How social and environmental factors change gene signals in Latino people with Alzheimer's and related dementias
Social epigenetics of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in Latin American countries
This project looks at how life experiences and social conditions change DNA chemical marks and relate to Alzheimer's and other dementias in Latino older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11368527 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a large, multi-country group of Latino older adults with Alzheimer's, frontotemporal dementia, or no memory problems and provide blood samples, brain scans, short memory tests, and information about your life and health. Scientists will look at DNA methylation marks and genetic tests like APOE and link them with brain images and social factors to see patterns tied to dementia. The work uses the ReDLat consortium’s standardized methods across Latin American sites so results can be compared across countries. The goal is to understand whether social or environmental exposures change biological aging or dementia markers in Latino communities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are Latino adults age 65 or older diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias (such as frontotemporal dementia) or healthy older Latino volunteers who can provide samples and complete clinic visits.
Not a fit: People under 65, non-Latino individuals, or those unable to give biospecimens or attend study visits are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal biomarkers and social drivers that enable more accurate, culturally tailored prevention and care for Latino patients with dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has found epigenetic differences in Alzheimer's and ReDLat has produced important population-specific findings, but applying social-epigenetic analyses across Latino cohorts is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Corley, Michael Jay — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Corley, Michael Jay
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.