Predictive Biomarkers of Racial Health Disparities in Alzheimers Disease

 
   Lead Investigator:    Ian McDonough
   Institution      :    The University of Alabama
   E-Mail           :    immcdonough@ua.edu
   Proposal ID      :    856



   Proposal Description:
   The overarching goal is to investigate racial health disparities in the           development of Alzheimers disease between African Americans and Caucasians        using biomarkers. Aim 1: To test whether African Americans differ from            Caucasians in Alzheimers pathology at autopsy Aim 2: To test whether African      Americans differ in mean level or acceleration of amyloid and tau than            Caucasians. Aim 3: To test whether elevated levels of amyloid and tau lead to     faster neurodegeneration of brain structure in African Americans than             Caucasians. Aim 4: To test whether similar levels of neurodegeneration lead to    accelerated cognitive and functional declines in African Americans than in        Caucasians. Aim 5: To test whether lifestyle and health factors differentially    accelerate or decelerate any of the above racial health disparities. These        analyses will help understand the greater prevalence of Alzheimers disease in     African Americans than Whites and provide evidence for lifestyle interventions    to delay Alzheimers disease in African Americans.