Understanding how infection, activity, genes, and sex affect dementia risk in Native South American groups
Official title: Testing Hypothesized Pathways Linking Infection, Physical Activity, Apoe Genotype, And Biological Sex To Low Dementia Prevalence And Reduced Brain Atrophy In Two Native American Populations
Funded at Chapman University · NIH-11393597 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how infections, exercise, APOE genotype, and biological sex influence cognitive aging and brain changes in two Native South American communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Chapman University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orange, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2017 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,537,279 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG054442-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393597 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older in the Tsimane and Moseten communities who consent to long-term health and cognitive assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who are not participating in the study’s follow-up visits or who do not consent to genetic or brain imaging analyses may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one have concerns about dementia, this study follows two Indigenous groups over time to see how lifestyle, infections, and genetics relate to dementia risk and brain health. Researchers will collect health data, track activity levels, and analyze how APOE genotype and sex might influence brain aging in a real-world setting. The work builds on prior findings in these communities to explore why some people show slower brain changes yet higher susceptibility to certain symptoms. Results could help tailor risk reduction and prevention strategies for aging populations with similar backgrounds.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to personalized strategies to maintain brain health in aging adults, especially for groups with unique infection and activity profiles.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown complex links between physical activity, infection, and brain aging in these populations, with some findings suggesting sex and APOE-related differences.
Where this research is happening
-
Chapman University
Orange, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaplan, Hillard S — Chapman University
- Study coordinator: Kaplan, Hillard S
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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.