Understanding how sleep apnea may raise Alzheimer’s risk in older Black adults
Official title: Using a Health Disparity Research Framework to examine mechanisms linking Obstructive Sleep Apnea with higher Alzheimer’s disease risk in older Blacks/African-Americans
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11322634 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why sleep apnea might help explain why older Black people have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,750,656 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG082278-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322634 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older Black adults with known or suspected obstructive sleep apnea, plus individuals and communities affected by vascular and socioeconomic risk factors.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without sleep apnea or with non-Black ancestry may have limited direct benefit from this specific study.
What this research studies
The study uses a disparities framework to explore how sleep apnea affects Alzheimer’s-related brain changes in Black older adults. It will compare how OSA influences brain pathology and inflammation, and whether cognitive decline links to these factors. The team will also examine how education, income, and neighborhood factors may explain differences in outcomes between Black and White participants. By identifying potential mechanisms like sleep patterns and inflammation, the research aims to guide more personalized care in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better risk identification and tailored interventions to reduce Alzheimer’s risk in older Black adults.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked sleep disorders, inflammation, and AD pathology, but this project aims to clarify race-specific mechanisms and social determinants.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bubu, Omonigho a Michael — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Bubu, Omonigho a Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Investigating the link between obstructive sleep apnea and Alzheimer's disease risk in older Black individuals
This study is looking at how sleep apnea might increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease in older Black adults, focusing on how sleep patterns and inflammation play a role, with the goal of finding better ways to support those at risk.
-
Investigating the link between obstructive sleep apnea and Alzheimer's disease
This study is looking at how sleep apnea might be linked to Alzheimer's disease in older adults, and it aims to find out if oxygen therapy can help improve thinking skills for those affected.
-
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Investigating how sleep apnea affects cognition and Alzheimer's disease in World Trade Center responders
This study is looking at how sleep apnea might affect thinking and memory in people who were exposed to World Trade Center dust, to see if improving sleep could help lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
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Understanding how brain activity changes may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression in a mouse model
Researchers are testing how changes in brain signals and protein cleanup processes affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
-
Thiamine-boosting therapy for Alzheimer’s: understanding how benfotiamine may reduce harmful AGE in DP patients
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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.