Promoting Diverse Perspectives: Addressing Health Disparities Related to Alzheimer's and other Dementias

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PROJECT SUMMARY Alzheimer's and other dementias are primary causes of disability and dependency in the US, but do not affect all groups equally. African Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, and Hispanic/Latino Americans have higher risk of dementia than non-Latino Whites and Asian Americans. Research to understand and ameliorate health disparities should be a public health priority, but historically few aging-related research grant awards relate to health disparities. In response, the NIA created the Health Disparities Research Framework (HDRF), which highlights environmental, sociocultural, behavioral, and biological factors that contribute to disparities in age-related disease. To advance disparities research in dementia specifically, the Alzheimer's Association (AA) will develop and hold two 2-day conferences, occurring in consecutive years (2021-22), for which all keynote, plenary, poster and other presentations will be mapped onto the NIA HDFR. Objectives include: 1) increase collaboration across the scientific community, 2) promote diffusion of new research designs and analytic methods, 3) create information and mentoring bridges between senior and early career investigators, and 4) promote more systematic research via the NIA HDRF. Each 250 in-person and 150 remotely-connected conference will be held in Washington, DC. Conference attendance will be free, and travel and meals will be covered for speakers and conference workgroup members. The AA will cover expenses relating to personnel, conference meals, the professional networking reception, and basic supplies. To meet our objectives, the five aims are: 1) Finalize the scientific program and all logistical details for the conference, via the Conference Workgroup that developed the preliminary program. The Conference Workgroup consists of a diverse group of AA and non-AA experts and is led by Principal Investigator, Dr. Carl V. Hill of AA. 2), Implement the conferences, entitled “Promoting Diverse Perspectives by Addressing Health Disparities Related to Alzheimer's and other Dementias”, consisting of lectures, panels, poster sessions, networking opportunities, and online evaluation of the conferences. 3), Facilitate sustainability of these efforts by hosting two mid-year webinars, highlighting developments in the field. 4), Promote the careers of early investigators via dedicated poster sessions, mentoring/short presentation sessions, and monthly social media, “spotlights.” 5), Disseminate conference findings and promote future research by publishing conference proceedings and special issues in relevant journals featuring research derived from the conferences and webinars. Results will include 1) dissemination of multi-level analyses of determinants of disparities in Alzheimer's and other dementias; 2) new cross-disciplinary fertilization, networking and collaborations in disparities research in dementia; 3) career enhancement for early career investigators and 4) overall advancement of dementia science toward the discovery of new mitigating and treatment approaches for all people.