Institution: University of North Texas
Overview:
The long-term goal of this research is to address two important health disparities faced by Mexican Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI): (1) younger age of onset and (2) decreased access to early detection and treatment. AD is the most common form of neurodegenerative dementia and the 5th leading cause of death for those over 65 (8th leading cause of death for U.S. Hispanics), and death rates due to AD are rising. The Mexican American elderly population is among the fastest growing segments of the population. Grant aims are to: 1) Examine the impact of higher rates of metabolic burden and depressive symptomatology on MCI and AD among community-dwelling Mexican American, 2) Examine neuroimaging and blood-based biomarkers associated with MCI and AD among Mexican Americans, and 3) Validate the team’s blood-based AD screening tool as the first-step in a multi-stage diagnostic process among Mexican Americans.