# Brain Health and Ethnic Disparities in ADRD Risk: The Case of Arab Americans - Covid Supplement

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $390,000

## Abstract

Project Abstract
This application for an NIA Administrative Supplement proposes to expand Alzheimer's Disease Risk and
Ethnic Factors: The Case of Arab Americans (R01AG057510) to incorporate an assessment of COVID-19
stress as an area of investigation through an immediate, brief telephone interview. The parent study is the first
of its kind to focus on AD health disparities in Arab Americans aged 65 and over living in the metro-Detroit
area, home to the largest and most visible Arab American community in the US. Building on the original study,
the planned supplement leverages an existing longitudinal study of Blacks and Whites from the same
geographic area. Capitalizing on the bilingual data collection instruments prepared and finalized for the parent
now delayed face-to-face study, we will conduct telephone interviews to address the following aims: 1)
Characterize prevalence of COVID-19 stress types and cognitive health in metro-Detroit among three
racial/ethnic groups; 2) Identify aspects of social relations that buffer links between COVID-19 stress and
cognitive health; and 3) Determine the role of pre-existing social resources on COVID-19 stress and cognitive
health. This project will document the prevalence of pandemic stress and its link to cognitive health among
these vulnerable older adults in three prominent racial/ethnic groups in Michigan. Further, the telephone mode
of the proposed data collection will provide a methodological opportunity to compare modes of cognitive health
data collection between the newly proposed and parent study (delayed due to COVID-19) among diverse
racial/ethnic groups. Establishing reactions to COVID-19 and examining links to cognitive health provides an
innovative, cost effective opportunity to more fully identify health disparities. Understanding the contribution of
social relations will refine theory about stress and cognitive health, provide key information to better prepare for
future pandemics and develop intervention strategies for eradication of cognitive health disparities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10178787
- **Project number:** 3R01AG057510-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** KRISTINE J. AJROUCH
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $390,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-09-15 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10178787

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10178787, Brain Health and Ethnic Disparities in ADRD Risk: The Case of Arab Americans - Covid Supplement (3R01AG057510-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10178787. Licensed CC0.

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