Rio Grande Valley Alzheimer's Resource Center for Minority Aging Research: Partnerships for Progress

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Summary – Overall Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD) disproportionately impact Hispanic Americans, who exhibit AD/ADRD rates 1.5 times higher and average onset 7 years earlier than do older Whites. Predicted growth of the US Hispanic population, faster in Texas portends exacerbation of the elevated health and economic burdens of AD/ADRD in Hispanics. A shortage of researchers focused on AD/ADRD in Hispanic Americans, particularly from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, restricts progress in this area, and is a key factor contributing to the severe underrepresentation of Hispanic Americans in research studies in AD/ADRD. To overcome these barriers, responding to NIA's AD/ADRD RCMAR Program (RFA-AG-23-025), and leveraging the robust mentorship and research infrastructure our RCMAR developed during the first 5-yr funding cycle, we aim to continue the Rio Grande Valley AD/ADRD RCMAR: Partnership for Progress at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), one of the nation's largest Hispanic-serving institutions. We will combine evidence-based mentoring and support mechanisms to develop and promote a first-rate regional and national cadre of researchers from underrepresented groups, to analyze the complex mechanisms and interacting factors that contribute to disparate Hispanic AD/ADRD vulnerability. The Center will support development of social and behavioral interventions using the NIH Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention Development, considering pathways and developmental time points at which changes in social circumstances and behavior can exert the largest favorable impacts on the prevention and progression of AD/ADRD among Hispanic populations. The Center will also exploit its unique resources to develop infrastructure and data collections that will attract and support researchers from multiple disciplines to conduct research aimed at reducing impacts of AD/ADRD on Hispanics. UTRGV's socio-demographic profile reflects that of its local community, positioning it uniquely to advance studies of disparities in health & health care and contribute innovative solutions to improve minorities' health. To achieve the Center's goals, the aims are: 1) Identify, engage, mentor, and provide high-quality training and individualized career development support to outstanding faculty, especially from underrepresented groups; 2) Support innovative, high-impact multidisciplinary pilot projects; 3) Continue providing expertise and resources for culturally-sensitive measures & analysis of cognitive risk factors in older Hispanics, including behavioral, neuropsychological, neuroimaging, cardiovascular, and genetic traits; and 4) Create needed expertise & resources to develop social/behavioral interventions at different ecological levels, via sustained community engagement of older Hispanics and their care partners in South TX. We will achieve these aims by continuation of 3 Cores (Leadership & Admin., Analysis, Community Liaison/Recruitment) and the Research Education Component. The Center will also leverage & build upon experience of collaborators at the UTRGV Institute of Neuroscience and the South TX Diabetes & Obesity Institute, and NIA-South Texas AD Research Center.