Understanding Alzheimer's Risk in Older Black Adults
Racial Differences in Late-Life Cognitive decline and risk of Alzheimer's Disease
This project aims to understand why older Black adults are more affected by Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11088930 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Older Black adults experience Alzheimer's disease and memory decline more often than other groups, and we don't fully understand why. This project seeks to fill that gap by looking at biological samples collected before and after death from older Black individuals who have been carefully followed for their memory changes. We also want to explore new factors, like the impact of race-specific stress, which might uniquely affect brain health in this community. By combining these approaches, we hope to uncover new ways to prevent and treat Alzheimer's.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be older Black adults interested in contributing to research on Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline, potentially through long-term follow-up and biospecimen donation.
Not a fit: Patients not belonging to the specific demographic group being studied may not directly benefit from the findings of this particular research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline, especially for older Black adults.
How similar studies have performed: While general stress is known to impact health, few studies have specifically examined the effect of race-specific stress on brain health in older Black adults, making this a novel area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Rush University Medical Center — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barnes, Lisa L — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Barnes, Lisa L
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.