# Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative (SHERC)

> **NIH NIH U54** · NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $393,793

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The incidence of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) in American Indian/Alaska Natives
(AI/AN) in the United States is growing. Compared to other ethnic and racial groups in the United States, the
AI/AN population has a higher number of comorbidities associated with developing ADRD and substantial risk
factors for early-onset, combined with significant health equity conditions that contribute to lower prevention
and treatment options. These risks are exacerbated by limited knowledge of AI/AN resilience and culturally
protective factors. Given the disease's progressive nature, early screening of ADRD in AI/AN would help
identify the risk of dementia early and help in delaying its onset. Several dementia risk prediction models have
been developed and validated in the White, Hispanic, and Black populations but are missing protective risk
factors and information pertinent to culturally adapting early intervention models for AI/AN communities.
We propose to conduct a longitudinal data analysis of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS)
linked with Medicare enrollment data, supported by Rapid Assessment, Response and Evaluation (RARE)
methodology to identify community-based perceptions of ADRD that impact early intervention efforts. The
primary objective of this proposal is to 1) develop and validate an American Indian Dementia Index (AIDi) for
AI/AN older adults. 2) In addition, the RARE approach and qualitative methodologies will identify unique
protective and risk factors, needs, and cultural attributes of the tribal community, which will complement the
AIDi.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10498704
- **Project number:** 3U54MD012388-05S3
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Julie A. Baldwin
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $393,793
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-09-20 → 2022-09-19

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10498704

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10498704, Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative (SHERC) (3U54MD012388-05S3). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10498704. Licensed CC0.

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