2024 Alzheimer's Association Research Fellowship to Promote Diversity (AARF-D)

The Influence of Neighborhood Context on Cognition and Research Recruitment

How does one’s neighborhood impact cognitive decline and dementia research participation? 

Jeremy Galen Grant, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH - United States

Background

According to the 2024 Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures report, older Hispanic Americans and non-Hispanic Black Americans are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s and other dementias than older White Americans. Despite this health disparity, most of the research and clinical trials for Alzheimer’s are conducted with White participants. 

Studies also show that social determinants of health, including income, experiences of discrimination, education, and access to healthcare, can impact brain health and a person’s lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s. A measure called the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) combines 17 social determinants of health to provide rankings of neighborhood disadvantage for every census block in the United States. However, most of the research using the ADI has relied on samples of White Americans, limiting the generalizability of the results. Further studies are needed to understand the extent to which neighborhood context influences both cognitive function and attitudes towards participating in Alzheimer’s research.

Research Plan

Dr. Jeremy Grant and colleagues will study the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and cognitive function in a diverse sample of older adults enrolled in the Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) Clinical Core. The researcher team will collect cognitive assessments, ADI scores, information regarding other social determinants of health and physical health, and brain scans (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI) from participants. 

In addition, Dr. Grant and team will gather information on research attitudes among individuals in different neighborhoods to support the development of a new community-based research participant registry.

Impact

This study may provide insight into the social factors that contribute to the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in underrepresented populations. In addition, the results could be used to develop outreach and educational strategies to increase Alzheimer’s research participation in these populations.