Investigating cognitive decline and dementia in older Kerala Americans
Official title: Cognitive decline and dementia in older Kerala Americans
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-11081696 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how common mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease are among older immigrants from Kerala, India, living in the U.S., and it aims to find out what factors might help protect their brain health or put them at risk, so if you're an older adult from Kerala, you could help us learn more about this important issue!
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 start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $753,864 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG084567-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11081696 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above who are first-generation immigrants from Kerala, India.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not of Kerala descent or who are younger than 65 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the incidence of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease among older first-generation immigrants from Kerala, India, living in the U.S. The study will involve clinically and biologically assessing 400 older adults to identify risk and protective factors related to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. By comparing this group with a cohort from Kerala, the research aims to uncover how sociocultural factors influence cognitive health in immigrant populations. Participants will undergo various assessments to gather data on their cognitive health and biological markers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and potential interventions for cognitive decline in older Kerala Americans.
How similar studies have gone: This research is novel as there are few studies specifically examining Alzheimer’s disease in immigrant populations like Kerala Americans.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Verghese, Joe — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Verghese, Joe
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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.