2023 Alzheimer's Association Research Grant (AARG)
ADRD risk factors in Middle Eastern and North African immigrants in the US
What is the prevalence and associated risk factors of Alzheimer’s in older Middle Eastern and North African immigrants?
Neda Jahanshad, Ph.D.
University of Southern California
Marina del Rey, CA - United States
Background
Optimizing health outcomes for the world’s population requires eliminating disparities and understanding specific risk factors for underserved populations. Studies have shown that an individual's long-term risk of developing Alzheimer’s is understudied in immigrant populations in the United States of diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Older individuals of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) decent living in the United States face unique health disparities that place them at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s. However, the specific social and biological factors contributing to this health disparity are largely unknown.
Research Plan
Dr. Neda Jahanshad and colleagues will identify the prevalence of and associated risk factors of Alzheimer’s among older individuals of MENA descent living in the United States. The team will recruit 120 individuals of MENA descent who are 55 years and older to study the social risk factors that contribute to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s risk in the United States MENA population. First, they will administer surveys to the individuals to collect information on their lifestyles, demographics, and cognitive performance. Next the researchers will examine brain scans from 30 of the participants to examine how each individual’s risk factors are associated with the hallmark brain changes in Alzheimer’s.
Impact
Results from this study could provide insights into the prevalence and underlying risk factors that may be associated with Alzheimer’s in a high-risk population and could give rise to new interventions to address health disparities.