# The Epidemiology of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Sexual and Gender Minority Older Adults: Identifying Risk and Protective Factors

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS · 2021 · $126,738

## Abstract

Abstract
By 2030, there will be nearly six million sexual and gender minority (SGM) older adults aged 60 and older in
the U.S. who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Approximately 350,000 SGM older adults in
the U.S. currently have Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), with projections nearing one
million by 2030. Yet, almost nothing is known about the prevalence or risk of ADRD in SGM older adults
without HIV/AIDS. This proposal will focus on the epidemiology and risk of ADRD in SGM older adults. The first
aim of this proposal is to characterize the epidemiology and risk of ADRD in a population-based sample of
SGM older adults and compare the prevalence and incidence of ADRD in SGM older adults to their
heterosexual peers. The second aim will focus on identifying risk and protective factors for ADRD in SGM older
adults, and to estimate the population attributable risk of depression and socioeconomic status (e.g., income
and education) on ADRD. The third aim will involve primary data collection in a community-based sample of
SGM older adults in order to investigate the relationship between risk and protective factors and cognition,
including memory and executive function. This proposal incorporates several innovations that will allow me to
evaluate the epidemiology and risk of cognitive impairment and ADRD in SGM older adults: 1) this will be the
first study of the epidemiology and associated risk and protective factors for cognitive impairment and ADRD in
SGM older adults; 2) it leverages the largest longitudinal dataset in the nation, Research Program for Genes
Environment and Health (RPGEH), with data on the physical and psychosocial health of SGM older adults; and
3) it involves a novel investigation of factors that may be associated with memory and executive function
impairment in SGM older adults. To successfully complete this research, I propose three training aims: 1)
advanced statistical modeling of ADRD risk and protective factors; 2) epidemiology of SGM aging and health
disparities; and 3) measurement and analysis of cognitive aging. This career development award ultimately will
result in the submission of a R01 to develop a future multi-site epidemiological study of cognitive aging and
ADRD in SGM older adults. Given that nothing is currently known about ADRD risk in this population, this work
is necessary to promote early detection; to develop culturally relevant screenings and targeted preventative
interventions to decrease ADRD risk in SGM older adults; and to improve the care and quality of life of this
vulnerable and understudied population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10225647
- **Project number:** 5K01AG056669-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS
- **Principal Investigator:** JASON DANE FLATT
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $126,738
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-15 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10225647

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10225647, The Epidemiology of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Sexual and Gender Minority Older Adults: Identifying Risk and Protective Factors (5K01AG056669-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10225647. Licensed CC0.

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