Asian Americans & Racism: Individual and Structural Experiences (ARISE)

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Project Summary/Abstract Problem-free”, “perpetual foreigner”, “silent minority”, “all the same” – these are stereotypes that have long plagued Asian Americans (ASAs), often referred to as the “model minority”. ASAs, however, encompasses a diversity of cultures, languages, immigration experiences, socioeconomic status (SES), and religions. Racism and discrimination against ASAs are not new but resurfaced with new intensity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual and area level racism and discrimination are tied to significant health disparities that influence risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). For ASAs, racism and discrimination at the individual and area level (e.g., residential segregation; redlining) may result in potential cognitive health disparities; however, this area of research in ASAs is understudied. Limited research suggests that at least some ASA groups have lower ADRD risk than non-Hispanic White individuals. Identification of potential protective factors (e.g., family cohesion) that may mitigate racism-related risk is an important scientific opportunity. Studies examining the role of multi-level discrimination related to ASAs’ risk for ADRD are sorely needed but limited. Our proposed study, Asian Americans & Racism: Individual and Structural Experiences (ARISE), guided by the NIA health disparities framework, will develop a multi-site, multi-lingual cohort in California to study the prevalence as well as the impact of multi-level discrimination and resilience resources on associated risk for ADRD among 1,500 older (≥65 years old) Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese Americans. We will leverage PI Park’s NIA-funded Collaborative Approach for AAPI Research and Education (CARE) registry as one of our recruitment sources. Our specific aims include: 1) Establish the ARISE cohort to determine the prevalence of life course experiences of multi-level discrimination among older Chinese-, Korean-, and Vietnamese Americans; 2) Evaluate the association of multi-level discrimination on cognitive performance and levels of AD biomarkers, overall and by ASA subgroup, sex, and primary language among ARISE participants. Secondary/exploratory Aim: Evaluate the association between multi-level discrimination and cognitive decline; and 3) Evaluate protective and risk factors that modify the effects of multi-level discrimination on cognitive performance and levels of AD biomarkers among ARISE participants. The scientific promise of ARISE is timely and necessary. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated anti-Asian racism. ARISE will add to our limited understanding of ASAs who are under-represented and under-engaged in ADRD and aging research.