Feasibility to develop a Black aging cohort in Southern California using SDOH
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PROJECT SUMMARY People who identify as Black American have higher rates of cognitive impairment, and are twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). However, Black communities have largely been excluded from clinical trials and research studies delaying research progress of ADRD risk factors and interventions. One area to improve participation in ADRD research and clinical trials from Black individuals is community engagement. The goal of this R34 proposal is to generate socially- and culturally-aligned approaches for successfully engaging Black communities in brain health research, and apply these techniques to build a Black Aging Cohort in Southern California (Los Angeles County and Orange County). The approach will utilize a mixed-methods research design (i.e., qualitative and quantitative) to identify structural and social determinants of health (SDOH) that directly affect Black communities and the individualized neighborhoods they reside in, and how these factors impact their willingness to participate in ADRD research studies and clinical trials. First, we plan to identify and engage stakeholders in Los Angeles County and Orange County to share and align health equity strategies for brain health. The goal of these relationships is to develop citizen panels (a small set of community stakeholders who possess a knowledge of community contexts) and a community equity board (community members who represent the community) who we can collaborate with to build awareness and understanding of brain health in the community and develop best practices for community engagement. Second, we will utilize existing online databases and tools to assess SDOH that are directly impacting Black neighborhoods. This research will provide census- and government-based indicators of structural factors and SDOH that may be barriers for research participation. Finally, we will conduct focus groups to determine SDOH barriers and facilitators that relate to participation in ADRD research and/or clinical trial studies. This aim will provide direct perspectives from Black American residents about available resources, the inequalities currently impacting their neighborhood, and how they affect their health and ability to participate in research. Focus group findings will provide context for identified structural factors and SDOH identified from the Citizen Panels, community equity boards, and online databases. Completion of these aims will generate neighborhood-specific, culturally tailored community engagement practices to further enhance our relationships with Black communities. Sustained relationships will further help the investigators develop a community informed health equity research plan for a future R01 application.
