Memory and brain aging in Latino adults
Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging-Alzheimer's disease
This project looks at how heart health, genes, brain scans, and life experiences affect memory and Alzheimer’s risk in Latino 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-11285241 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a long-term, diverse Latino group where researchers collect 10 years of cognitive tests, brain MRIs, and advanced blood markers related to Alzheimer's. They will also perform detailed heart-health exams, genetic testing (including APOE), and questionnaires about social and cultural factors. The team will combine these measures to find early signs and risk patterns that might explain higher dementia rates in Latino communities. Participation may involve clinic visits, imaging, blood or saliva samples, and follow-up testing over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Latino adults (age 21 and older), especially middle-aged and older people, willing to undergo cognitive testing, MRIs, heart-health exams, and give blood or saliva for genetic and biomarker testing.
Not a fit: People who are not Latino, who cannot undergo MRI or blood draws, or who already have advanced dementia and cannot participate in tests may not benefit directly from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify earlier detection methods and prevention targets tailored to Latino communities.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research links cardiovascular health and genetics to dementia risk, but long-term, deeply phenotyped biomarker studies focused specifically on diverse Latino groups are rare.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gonzalez, Hector M — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Gonzalez, Hector M
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.