# Impact of Structural Racism on Racial Disparities in Cognitive Impairment

> **NIH NIH K01** · TUFTS UNIVERSITY MEDFORD · 2024 · $118,823

## Abstract

It
cognitive
estimated
is estimated that 65% of individuals experience some level of cognitive impairment by 70 years of age. Within
 impairment, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are a leading cause of death, affecting an
5.8 million Americans.Black Americans are twice as likely as White Americans to be diagnosed with
cognitive impairment. And among older adults with cognitive impairment, Black, compared to White, individuals
have worse cognitive function, greater functional disability, and more severe neuropsychiatric symptoms,
indicating preventable racial disparities. Understanding
preventing
examining health disparities, using claims data to assess healthcare utilization, and policy analysis,
 sources of these disparities will provide great insight into
 and delaying cognitive impairment. The goal of the proposed K01 is to train the candidate in
to build on
her prior work, which has focused on interpersonal dynamics and social networks of older adults as risk factors
for functional decline.
practices,
opportunities
candidate
 The proposed research focuses on structural racism – the larger system of policies,
 and institutions that reinforces racial inequality by creating differential access to resources and
 – as a fundamental cause of racial disparities in cognitive impairment. Through this K01, t he
 will (1) link data from the US Census, Medicare claims, and the Health and Retirement Study, to
examine how structural racism leads to health disparities in cognitive impairment and dementia; (2) develop an
understanding of how population-based research can be leveraged to inform policies in health and non-health
sectors for older adults;
equity,
is
extensive
domains
design
in
across
racism
utilization
and,
the
solutions
training
individual-level
and (3) complete oursework in neurobiology of dementia, social justice and health
methods in health services research, and policy modeling approaches. The Yale School of Public Health
a phenomenal environment to pursue this training. The candidate's primary mentor, Dr. Danya Keene, has
expertise in how structural racism in the domain of housing policies and practices, intersects with other
 of structura racism to create health inequalities. Dr. Heather Allore (co-mentor) is an expert in the
 and statistical analysis o observational studies and clinical trials for older adults, with a special interest
racial disparities in the context of dementia. Dr. Belinda Needham (co-mentor) is an expert in health disparities
the life course. The proposed project will examine the association between three dimensions of structural
and risk of cognitive impairment, including dementia, and racial disparities in these outcomes; health care
among individuals with cognitive impairment; and assess whether s ocial support, at the individual level,
Medicaid expansion, at the structural-level, modify the adverse effects of structural racism. Consistent with
 research priorities of NIA, findings f rom this work will i...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10843046
- **Project number:** 5K01AG080113-02
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS UNIVERSITY MEDFORD
- **Principal Investigator:** Talha Ali
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $118,823
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-06-01 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10843046

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10843046, Impact of Structural Racism on Racial Disparities in Cognitive Impairment (5K01AG080113-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10843046. Licensed CC0.

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