Why Alzheimer's affects African American families
The Origins of Alzheimer Disease in African Americans
This project looks at genes, family history, and ancestry to learn what raises 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-11393226 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect DNA, medical records, and family histories from African American volunteers, including people with Alzheimer's and their relatives. They will perform whole-genome sequencing and compare genetic ancestry to find common and rare variants and to see how known genes like APOE act in African ancestry. The team will use family-based designs alongside case-control data to increase power to detect risk variants. The goal is to untangle genetic and environmental contributors to Alzheimer's in African Americans to guide better risk prediction and future prevention or drug targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are African American adults with Alzheimer's disease, family members of people with Alzheimer's, or African American volunteers willing to provide DNA and health information.
Not a fit: People without African ancestry or those seeking immediate treatment changes are unlikely to gain direct benefits from this genetics-focused work right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve Alzheimer's risk prediction for African American people and identify prevention strategies or drug targets relevant to them.
How similar studies have performed: Large genetic studies in European-ancestry populations have identified many risk genes and smaller African American studies have found different patterns, but large family-based whole-genome sequencing in African Americans is relatively new.
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.