# Health and Aging Brain among Latino Elders (HABLE-AT(N)) Study

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR · 2022 · $9,074,729

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The 2018 NIA - Alzheimer's Association Research Framework [AT(N)] for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) provides a
biological context for studying AD by incorporating state-of-the art biomarkers of amyloid (A), tau (T) and
neurodegeneration (N). Despite the fact that these biomarkers vary by race/ethnicity, no prior work has
systematically examined them among Mexican Americans. Given that (1) Hispanic/Latinos are projected to
experience the largest growth in AD and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRDs) by 2060 and (2)
Mexican Americans are the largest segment of the U.S. Hispanic/Latino population, there is a pressing need to
study prevalence, progression and clinical impact of these biomarkers among this underrepresented group.
This work addresses goals of the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA), NIA Milestones for AD and ADRD
research, and needs highlighted by the AT(N) framework publication.
The current research team consists of leading experts in Mexican American cognitive aging, neuroimaging
(PET and MRI), blood-based biomarkers as well as advanced statistical modeling. By leveraging the ongoing
HABLE cohort, infrastructure and data, we will test the following Specific Aims: Aim 1: Examine the
prevalence, progression and clinical impact of cerebral markers of the 2018 AT(N) framework among
community-dwelling Mexican Americans. Aim 2. Examine the prevalence, progression and clinical impact of
blood markers of the 2018 AT(N) framework among community-dwelling Mexican Americans. Aim 3: To
determine if blood-based biomarkers of Aβ40, Aβ42, tau and NfL can be used to screen for AT(N)-defined
preclinical AD, prodromal AD and AD dementia for enrollment of Mexican Americans into novel clinical trials.
The current study is highly significant for several reasons: (1) This is the first-ever large-scale multi-ethnic
study of the AT(N) biomarkers, which is of tremendous importance given the racial/ethnic make-up of the U.S.
population; (2) this work directly addresses goals set forth by NAPA as well NIA-Milestones for AD/ADRD
science; (3) it will determine if ethnic-specific biomarker trajectories are appropriate and finally, (4) it will
generate data and methods for increasing enrollment of Hispanics into clinical trials across the AT(N)-defined
spectrum of AD (primary, secondary and tertiary prevention) beginning in primary care settings.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10402824
- **Project number:** 5R01AG058533-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** LEIGH A JOHNSON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $9,074,729
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10402824

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10402824, Health and Aging Brain among Latino Elders (HABLE-AT(N)) Study (5R01AG058533-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10402824. Licensed CC0.

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