# Evaluation of the cognitive function and socioeconomic, biomedical, and genetic risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in older Marshallese residents of Northwest Arkansas

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS · 2020 · $377,500

## Abstract

The National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) estimates that 11.2% of Americans ≥ 65 have
probable dementia (1). The Marshallese are a subpopulation of Pacific Islanders with the highest
concentration of the migrants settled in Northwest Arkansas that are experiencing significant health
disparities. Some of the co-morbidities such as type 2 diabetes have been studied by McElfish et al but
cognitive impairment or dementia in this population has not been investigated. Dementia, regardless of
etiology, imposes a severe socioeconomic burden on society and at an individual level on the patient, the
caregiver(s), and families. Race, ethnicity and migrant with lower health literacy might all influence
dementia prevalence in the Marshallese population. Given the fast growing numbers of Marshallese with
extremely high rates of T2DM (38.4%), pre-diabetes (32.6%) and hypertension (40%) it is imperative that
investigators and healthcare providers give attention to brain health and dementia. The prevalence and
associated cardiometabolic, social and genetic risk factors for cognitive impairment need to be
investigated in the Marshallese in order to design, offer and deliver public health services, resources and
medical care in an appropriate and culturally sensitive manner.
Our innovation resides in: a) evaluating for the first time the understanding of dementias and cognitive
impairment among the Marshallese community, b) determining for the first time the prevalence of
cognitive impairment in the Marshallese population; c) determining how the risk factors for dementia
including APOE genotype, hypertension and diabetes mellitus correlate with cognition.
We would like to investigate Alzheimer disease and related dementias in the Marshallese through the
following specific aims:
Aim 1 a To evaluate the perceptions of Marshallese residents towards memory loss or dementia
and to provide information and education to bridge the knowledge gap;
Aim 1 b To test the hypothesis that older Marshallese residents (over age 55 years) with diabetes
and hypertension will have more cognitive impairment compared to that in their age matched
cohorts without diabetes or hypertension.
Aim 2: To determine the prevalence of APOE4 vs. APOE2 or APOE3 genotype in the older
Marshallese residents in Northwest Arkansas and correlate it with their cognitive function.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10123779
- **Project number:** 3R01MD013852-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Pearl McElfish
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $377,500
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-07-29 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10123779

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10123779, Evaluation of the cognitive function and socioeconomic, biomedical, and genetic risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in older Marshallese residents of Northwest Arkansas (3R01MD013852-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10123779. Licensed CC0.

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