University of Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD) Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (USC AD/ADRD RCMAR)

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PROJECT SUMMARY – ANALYSIS CORE The health, social and economic issues associated with dementia, and the inequitable burden of dementia across different racial/ethnic populations, are of such magnitude and complexity that they require a vantage point from multiple disciplines. Generating scientific evidence to advance dementia health equity requires rigorous methods applied to the best available data. The University of Southern California’s Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease Related Dementias Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (USC AD/ADRD RCMAR) brings a distinct capacity for integrating theories and tools from myriad disciplines including but not limited to economics, sociology, and gerontology, using large, complex data sets, and applying rigorous panel data and quasi- experimental methods to generate innovative AD/ADRD disparities research. Our interdisciplinary faculty have the support and expertise to advance research in our focus area: pathways by which social, behavioral and economic factors, and policies and health systems affect disparities in risk of AD/ADRD, and affect disparities in the health, health care and economic outcomes of persons living with dementia. We build upon our successful 10-year history of advancing the research and careers of underrepresented scholars. We bring together the infrastructure, leadership, interdisciplinary expertise and resources to: (1) increase the number, diversity, and scholarly achievements of scholars of dementia health equity research and; (2) develop new, innovative lines of research to advance dementia health equity. The USC AD/ADRD RCMAR is housed in the Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, which brings together expertise in AD/ADRD from across USC’s schools, and maintains a large data core, analytical programming team, and external affairs team to support AD/ADRD research and disseminate findings for impact. To this we add resources and leaders from our partner NIA funded centers: USC’s Roybal Center for Behavioral Interventions of Aging, Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Center for Economic and Sociodemographic Study of AD/ADRD, and USC/UCLA Center on Biodemography and Population Health. Importantly we have partnered with two HBCUs, Spelman College and Howard University, and California State University Fullerton - an Hispanic and Latinx serving institution. Their junior researchers and senior scholars and leaders are uniquely positioned to bring diverse perspectives and broaden the field of AD/ADRD research. We propose an Analysis Core (AnC) that leverages the deep expertise of our Investigators and rich resources of programs at USC to provide data and programming support and offer workshops in sophisticated analytical methods to scientists; to expand on existing and develop new lines of research and methods to advance dementia health equity; and to promote research and methods across RCMARs.