Origins of Alzheimer's in African American families
The Origins of Alzheimer Disease in African Americans
This project looks for genetic differences that may explain Alzheimer's risk in African American people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11393227 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will collect health information, family histories, and DNA from African American participants and their relatives. They will compare genomes to find both common and rare genetic changes linked to Alzheimer's and look at how African ancestry and environmental factors interact with risk genes. The team will use family-based and population genetic analyses to improve detection of risk variants that smaller studies have missed. Findings will be combined with existing data to build a clearer picture of what increases Alzheimer's risk in African American communities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are African American adults with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia and their family members who can provide medical history and a DNA sample.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment effects or individuals without African ancestry are unlikely to see direct, short-term benefits from this genetic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve risk prediction, suggest prevention approaches, and reveal new drug targets that are more relevant for African American patients.
How similar studies have performed: Genetic studies in mainly European-ancestry groups have identified several Alzheimer's risk genes, but applying these methods in African American populations is less common and may reveal new, population-specific findings.
Where this research is happening
Coral Gables, United States
- University of Miami School of Medicine — Coral Gables, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pericak-Vance, Margaret a. — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Pericak-Vance, Margaret a.
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.