# International Labor Migration, Armed Conflict and Dementia Risk in Nepal: A Population Study

> **NIH NIH R01** · GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $777,962

## Abstract

The overall objective of this application is to lay the foundation for a sustainable program of population-based
research into Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in Nepal. To that end, the project seeks to
initiate a series of research capacity building activities and develop a new, population-based, longitudinal
cohort study of ADRD and related age-associated chronic health conditions in this population. Population aging
is becoming increasingly more common in many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). As a result, these
countries face the growing burden of common age-associated chronic illnesses, including ADRD. Nepal is a
low middle-income country where the population is now aging, putting a rising number of adults at risk of
developing ADRD. There is virtually no research capacity in Nepal to investigate the scope and primary
determinants of ADRD, and even the most basic information on ADRD is currently lacking. Such information is
urgently needed to guide the development of prevention strategies and reduce the burden of ADRD in this
country. Capacity building activities will focus on training in survey data collection methods with a primary focus
on ascertainment of ADRD and statistical methods for the analysis of complex data from longitudinal panel
surveys. The activities will consist of workshops with hands-on experience in the design and administration of
cognitive assessments to identify ADRD in the general population, and in statistical analysis methods for
longitudinal data from complex surveys. The project will also begin a new, longitudinal cohort study of ADRD
designed to fill substantial gaps in information on ADRD and its primary risk factors in Nepal. It will focus on
two novel risk factors with particular salience to understand the burden of ADRD in Nepal. The first involves the
role of international labor migration: a substantial portion of Nepali adults spend prolonged periods of
adulthood working in other countries to earn income for their families, often in challenging situations. The
second risk factor involves the long-term effects of exposure to armed conflict that has affected this population
for 10 years (1996-2006). The impact of labor migration and armed conflict on ADRD risk is currently unknown.
The study will leverage the data collection infrastructure that has been developed for the Chitwan Valley Family
Study, a population survey of >10,000 participants aged 15-59 that started in 1996. The cohort is now aging,
providing a unique opportunity to begin a new population study of ADRD and other chronic health conditions.
The study will include the estimated 4,000 surviving participants who have now become age-eligible (> 50) for
this study. This sample will be invited for a baseline interview, including a detailed cognitive assessment, and a
follow-up interview two years later. Outcomes from the capacity building and research activities will be shared
with relevant stakeholders and organizations in N...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10708192
- **Project number:** 5R01AG074079-02
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Dirgha J Ghimire
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $777,962
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-30 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10708192

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10708192, International Labor Migration, Armed Conflict and Dementia Risk in Nepal: A Population Study (5R01AG074079-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10708192. Licensed CC0.

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