This article was part of the Bridging the Gap Series and was originally published here.
Public health experts at UC Irvine’s Wen Public Health are leading a pioneering study focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities in California. Funded by a nearly $2 million grant from the California Department of Public Health, Principal Investigator Luohua Jiang, MD, PhD, aims to address health inequities and improve ADRD research and care for these historically underserved populations.
AI/AN adults bear a disproportionate burden of many established modifiable risk factors for ADRD, such as diabetes, obesity and smoking. However, ADRD is significantly understudied among AI/AN populations. Jiang’s study aims to address these knowledge gaps and enhance the well-being of California’s Native population.
“We are looking at a seismic demographic shift in the U.S. Native population aged 65 and older, which is projected to increase 3.7-fold by 2050,” Jiang said. “A surge in dementia prevalence may be on the horizon in the coming decades as the population of California Native elders grows. Identifying the top modifiable risk factors in this population is critical to prevent or delay this surge and develop targeted interventions.”
[…] ADRD, especially in its early stages, often goes under-detected among underserved populations, exacerbating health disparities. Our projected study hopes to remediate that.”
– Luohua Jiang, MD, PhD
Building on past research, the study incorporates innovative technologies to understand the unique challenges faced by California AI/AN communities. The research has three primary objectives:
- Investigate Modifiable Risk Factors: Researchers are exploring the differences in modifiable risk factors for ADRD between California AI/AN and White Medicare beneficiaries to identify critical risk factors specific to the AI/AN demographic, informing targeted prevention strategies.
- Develop Risk Prediction Models: Utilizing both traditional statistical methods and leading-edge machine learning algorithms, the study is developing ADRD risk prediction models tailored to the California AI/AN population with Medicare coverage.
- Model Health Expenditures: The study is building economic-driven models to project changes in Medicare and Medicaid expenditures associated with implementing automated risk assessment tools. These tools could facilitate prevention, early detection and early diagnosis of ADRD, potentially transforming healthcare delivery for AI/AN communities.
Anticipated findings could identify crucial intervention targets for preventing ADRD among California AI/AN adults, develop automated risk assessment tools in AI/AN healthcare systems, and illuminate the economic implications of early detection and diagnosis.
“The impact of early ADRD diagnosis is profound,” Jiang explains. “It offers substantial benefits to individuals and their families while potentially reducing the overall treatment costs associated with the condition. Unfortunately, ADRD, especially in its early stages, often goes under-detected among underserved populations, exacerbating health disparities. Our projected study hopes to remediate that.”
By focusing on the unique challenges faced by California’s AI/AN populations, this study exemplifies UC Irvine’s commitment to health equity and the pursuit of innovative solutions to longstanding disparities. The insights gained will improve understanding and management of ADRD among AI/AN communities and set a precedent for future research and policy initiatives aimed at closing the gap in healthcare disparities.
