2024 Alzheimer's Association Research Grant to Promote Diversity (AARG-D)
Social Determinants of Health and Neurodegeneration: The Strong Heart Study
What social determinants of health contribute to Alzheimer’s development in Native Americans?
Amiri Solmaz, M.D., Ph.D.
Washington State University
Pullman, WA - United States
Background
According to the 2023 Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures, Native Americans face cultural barriers in Alzheimer’s diagnosis and treatment and are underrepresented in Alzheimer’s research. Additionally, cognitive impairment is often accepted as part of normal aging in Native American communities, leaving older individuals with Alzheimer’s undiagnosed or diagnosed at later stages. Studies have shown that social determinants of health including income, education, and access to healthcare can influence one’s lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other dementias. However, the impact of these factors on Alzheimer’s risk and disease progression has been under-studied in the Native American population.
Research Plan
For their project, Dr. Solmaz and colleagues will study the association between social determinants of health, cognitive impairment, and brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s in Native Americans. They will leverage clinical data from over 400 Native American participants from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s American Indian database. The researchers will first examine the relationship between changes in brain volume, one of the hallmark brain changes in Alzheimer’s where nerve cell death leads to reduced brain volume, and social determinants of health such as income, education, and socioeconomic status. Lastly, the team will also identify the link between these factors and cognitive impairment for each participant.
Impact
The results of this study may help understand risk factors for Alzheimer’s in Native Americans. If successful, the results could be used to develop outreach and educational strategies to increase Alzheimer’s awareness in this underrepresented population.