The Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s, Aging and Community Health (COAACH) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) has secured a five-year, $4.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance research on Alzheimer’s disease in middle-aged Black Americans.
The NIH R01 grant, considered the “gold standard” for independent research funding, will support the Black American United Memory and Aging Project (BA-UMAP), designed to explore the social, cultural, behavioral, environmental, and biological factors that influence memory loss.
Led by COAACH Director Travonia Brown-Hughes, PhD, the study will explore biopsychosocial factors influencing cognitive outcomes in 600 Black participants aged 55 and older. Collaborators include Johns Hopkins University, Clemson University, William Beaumont Hospital at Michigan, and Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity.
Conducted entirely online, the study will provide biological sample collection kits to participants with postage-paid mailing envelopes, ensuring accessible participation options for those involved.
“This research holds the potential for earlier detection, more effective treatments, and tailored prevention strategies,” BrownHughes said in a statement. “We aim to reduce health disparities and address a critical need in Alzheimer’s research within Black communities.”
Black Americans are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease, with older Black adults twice as likely as White adults to develop the disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Despite this, they are less likely to receive a diagnosis, highlighting the importance of culturally-tailored research and interventions.
“Amid broader calls for social justice, greater strides must be made to eliminate discrimination and other forms of bias to ensure all Americans have access to high-quality dementia care and support services and opportunities to participate in, and benefit from, Alzheimer’s research,” said Brown-Hughes.
COAACH has been at the forefront of Alzheimer’s research and community outreach, aligning with N.C. A&T’s mission as a historically Black university and land-grant institution. Recently, COAACH received an additional $150,000 grant as part of the North Carolina Registry for Brain Health, further enhancing its efforts to connect residents with research opportunities and improve brain health awareness.
Abdellah Ahmidouch, PhD, dean of N.C. A&T’s College of Science and Technology, praised the grant as a significant step toward health equity. “This work exemplifies our dedication to advancing science and serving underrepresented communities,” he said.
