$3 Million Grant Spurs Research into Alzheimer’s Disease in Indigenous Populations
Miller School of Medicine researcher James Galvin looks to understand Alzheimer’s disease in American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations.
The Native Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (NAD-RCMAR) funding will allow James E. Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., principal investigator and professor of neurology and psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Miller School, and his collaborators to provide an inclusion research training curriculum to a diverse cohort of 12 scientists pursuing social-behavioral research on aging in Native people.
Miller School of Medicine researcher James Galvin looks to understand Alzheimer’s disease in American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations.
The National Institute of Aging awarded a $3.3 million center grant to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to lead a research consortium and advance the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease in American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations.
The Native Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (NAD-RCMAR) funding will allow James E. Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., principal investigator and professor of neurology and psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Miller School, and his collaborators to provide an inclusion research training curriculum to a diverse cohort of 12 scientists pursuing social-behavioral research on aging in Native people.
“This grant allows us to address Alzheimer’s disease in a very understudied group of individuals, while also increasing the diversity of scientists conducting research in Native populations in the United States,” said Dr. Galvin.
“Helping All People by Studying All People”
Dr. Galvin will lead the project along with Washington State University’s Patrick Johansson, M.D., M.P.H. They will work with colleagues at Northern Arizona University, the University of North Carolina and the University of New Mexico.
“The University of Miami has really been a trailblazer in addressing brain health and health care disparities,” Dr. Galvin said. “A lot of our projects focus on populations that live here in Florida, like African-American, Caribbean and Hispanic populations. We’ve extended that mission now to include other groups. We can only help all people by studying all people and being able to translate research findings into clinical care.”
American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations face striking health disparities due to systemic inequities, discrimination, and social and structural determinants of health. Differences in lifelong health disparities and a higher burden of comorbid health conditions may also make Alzheimer’s disease present earlier.
“What we know so far is that American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander elders have a higher burden of vascular risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol,” Dr. Galvin said. “And these risk factors are also strong risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.”
In addition, genes that put these populations at risk may differ. For example, the APOE gene, which is associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease in European white populations, does not appear to be a risk factor in American Indians or Alaska Natives.
Training the Next Generation of Investigators
The initiative also focuses on engaging the next generation of investigators through mentoring and training. Racial and ethnic minorities make up nearly one-third of the U.S. population but only about 3 percent of funded investigators.
The researchers accepted into the initiative conduct 18-month, intensive pilot projects. During this time they receive didactics, one-on-one mentoring, professional development, and research training. While the program largely focuses on early-stage investigators, more established investigators who are new Alzheimer’s research are welcome to apply.
The goal of NAD-RCMAR is to provide the tools for pilot awardees to become independent, NIH-funded researchers. Each awardee completes a manuscript and submits a grant proposal based on their pilot project.
“While anybody can apply as an investigator, it’s particularly satisfying that this first round of projects will all be led by indigenous investigators,” Dr. Galvin said.
Three of the four initial investigators are American Indian and the fourth is Samoan. Their projects address:
- Traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease in American Samoan veterans.
- Culture-based mindfulness in American Indians as potentially protective against future Alzheimer’s disease.
- Resilience in older American Indian and Alaska Natives.
- Alcohol use and alcohol use disorder as a potential risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
“What the researchers share in common is understanding of some of the risk and resilience factors for Alzheimer’s disease in people from these populations,” Dr. Galvin said.
The National Institute on Aging has eight Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) focused on Alzheimer’s disease, with the NAD-RCMAR being the only one focused on indigenous populations.
Program Information
Dr. Galvin and colleagues plan to hold two more calls for applications. For more information:
- Email [email protected]
- Visit UMiamiBrainHealth.org
Tags: aging, Alzheimer's & Dementia, cognitive decline, Dr. James Galvin, indigenous communities, USNWR Neuro