Understanding Memory and Aging in Black Adults
Official title: The Black American United Memory & Aging Project (BA-UMAP): An examination of cognitive decline in midlife and older Black adults using remote cognitive assessments, risk factors & biomarkers
Funded at North Carolina Agri & Tech St Univ · NIH-11178671 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This effort aims to learn more about why Alzheimer's disease and related memory problems are more common in Black adults by looking at various health and social factors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina Agri & Tech St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Greensboro, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,043,149 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079388-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178671 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Black adults aged 55 and older who are interested in contributing to research on memory and aging.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate medical treatment or diagnosis for Alzheimer's disease will not receive direct benefit from participating in this observational effort.
What this research studies
We are creating a group of 600 middle-aged and older Black adults, aged 55 and up, to follow over time. This group, called the Black American United Memory and Aging Project (BA-UMAP), will participate remotely from their homes. We will gather information through online questionnaires about their health and life experiences, conduct annual memory tests using computers and mobile devices, and collect non-invasive saliva and urine samples. Our goal is to build a virtual community that offers education and builds trust while gathering important data.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us better understand the unique factors contributing to memory decline in Black adults, potentially leading to more targeted prevention strategies and treatments.
How similar studies have gone: While the need for more research in this specific population is critical, other studies have shown the value of remote data collection and longitudinal follow-up in understanding cognitive health.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina Agri & Tech St Univ
Greensboro, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown-Hughes, Travonia S — North Carolina Agri & Tech St Univ
- Study coordinator: Brown-Hughes, Travonia S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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BA-UMAP: Understanding cognitive aging in Black adults using remote assessments
A large US study follows 600 Black adults aged 55+ over several years to understand how biopsychosocial factors relate to cognitive change, using online surveys, remote cognitive tests, and optional saliva/urine samples.
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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.