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$25 Million NIH Grant to Address Alzheimer’s Risk in Underserved Chinese American Community
A landmark $25 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will empower researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to investigate the unique risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias within the rapidly growing Chinese American population – a group historically excluded from critical research.
Did you know?– Alzheimer’s disease affects an estimated 7 million older Americans.One in three ultimately die with the disease or another form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s association.
The study, launching in October 2025, aims to fill a significant gap in our understanding of dementia, which currently affects an estimated 7 million older Americans, with one in three ultimately dying with the disease or another form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Despite the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s, data specific to Chinese Americans has been limited due to a lack of portrayal in clinical trials.
Pro tip:– Researchers will use at-home sleep testing, cognitive assessments, brain imaging, and blood-based biomarkers.This comprehensive approach aims to identify unique dementia risk pathways.
Led by principal Investigators Clara Li, PhD, Jessica Spat-Lemus, PhD, Ankit Parekh, PhD, and Bin Zhang, PhD, the project will enroll 250 participants of Chinese American descent, equally divided between those born in the United States and those who immigrated later in life. Researchers will employ a comprehensive approach, utilizing at-home sleep testing, detailed cognitive assessments, advanced brain imaging techniques – including positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging – and analysis of blood-based biomarkers.
Did you know?– The study will examine how acculturation, language, healthcare access, education, stress, and social connections influence dementia risk.Generational status will also be considered.
“As neuropsychologists, we know that Alzheimer’s disease risk and presentation are shaped by cultural and social context,” explained Dr. Li, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The research team will specifically examine how factors like acculturation, language proficiency, access to healthcare, education level, stress, and social connections interact with generational status to influence dementia risk. They anticipate identifying unique pathways of risk that can inform more effective, tailored prevention and intervention strategies.
Pro tip:– Integrating neuroimaging and neuropsychological data will fill a critical knowledge gap. This approach will advance precision medicine in dementia care.
Dr. Spat-Lemus, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai, emphasized the importance of integrating multiple data streams. “Neuropsychological testing and brain imaging provide complementary perspectives on how brain changes are reflected in cognitive and behavioral outcomes,” she said. “By integrating neuroimaging and neuropsychological data within a framework that considers generation status, education, and other key factors, our study will fill a critical gap in knowledge and advance precision medicine in dementia care.”
Reader question:– Why focus on sleep? Chinese Americans report worse sleep quality. The study will analyse slow-wave sleep to uncover new preventive interventions.
Sleep quality will be a central focus of the investigation. Dr.Parekh, an Assistant Professor of Medicine specializing in Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, noted that “Chinese Americans report worse sleep quality than other groups, yet little is known about how this affects Alzheimer’s
