The Engaging Communities of Hispanics for Aging Research (ECHAR) Network

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Abstract Hispanic/Latin American (H/L) populations currently comprise over 18% of the population in the United States and this number is expected to increase to nearly 29% by 2030. As the H/L population continues to grow rapidly, ADRDs are becoming a major public health concern. Research suggests H/Ls are 1.5-2x more likely to develop ADRD and have the highest proportion of AD diagnoses as compared to other ethnic groups in the United States. Yet, H/Ls are less likely to participate in research due to participation related stigma, health literacy, and mistrust. Furthermore, research on these recruitment barriers have been primarily limited to older adults and non-Hispanic Whites since these groups are directly affected by ADRD. Overall, there is a critical need to include diverse samples in ADRD research to identify and better understand modifiable risk factors, methods of resilience, and effective methods of recruitment. H/L young adults often act as liaisons, or “health brokers,” for their family members as they translate important documents, correspondence, and medical information. Moreover, they often live in intergenerational households that focus on the well-being of the family unit rather than on the individual: a concept often referred to as familismo. In addition to placing a strong emphasis on families, which leads to family centered decision making, it is important to recognize that H/L young adults are more likely to participate in research studies and are more open to working with researchers. Thus, H/L young adults may serve as mediators to mitigate many of the key recruitment barriers that may prevent older adults from participating in ADRD research. In an effort to increase H/L representation in ADRD research, we propose to recruit young, college- aged H/L individuals to participate in a Boot Camp Translation (BCT): a validated, community- engaged procedure that aims to make scientific health knowledge culturally relevant. Ultimately, the young adult BCT will have: (1) established a trained community advisory board on ADRD, (2) yielded culturally relevant and sensitive recruitment material and strategies for ADRD research; and (3) empowered H/L families in the area to continue their collaboration with investigators and various health information systems. Overall, the proposed study will capitalize on cultural characteristics to empower H/L community members and promote their engagement in ADRD research.