# Asian Americans & Racism: Individual and Structural Experiences (ARISE)

> **NIH NIH R56** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2023 · $3,432,146

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Problem-free”, “perpetual foreigner”, “silent minority”, “all the same” – these are stereotypes that
have long plagued Asian Americans (ASAs), often referred to as the “model minority”. ASAs,
however, encompasses a diversity of cultures, languages, immigration experiences,
socioeconomic status (SES), and religions. Racism and discrimination against ASAs are not
new but resurfaced with new intensity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual and area level
racism and discrimination are tied to significant health disparities that influence risk of
Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). For ASAs, racism and discrimination at
the individual and area level (e.g., residential segregation; redlining) may result in potential
cognitive health disparities; however, this area of research in ASAs is understudied. Limited
research suggests that at least some ASA groups have lower ADRD risk than non-Hispanic
White individuals. Identification of potential protective factors (e.g., family cohesion) that may
mitigate racism-related risk is an important scientific opportunity. Studies examining the role of
multi-level discrimination related to ASAs’ risk for ADRD are sorely needed but limited. Our
proposed study, Asian Americans & Racism: Individual and Structural Experiences (ARISE),
guided by the NIA health disparities framework, will develop a multi-site, multi-lingual cohort in
California to study the prevalence as well as the impact of multi-level discrimination and
resilience resources on associated risk for ADRD among 1,500 older (≥65 years old) Chinese,
Korean, and Vietnamese Americans. We will leverage PI Park’s NIA-funded Collaborative
Approach for AAPI Research and Education (CARE) registry as one of our recruitment sources.
Our specific aims include: 1) Establish the ARISE cohort to determine the prevalence of life
course experiences of multi-level discrimination among older Chinese-, Korean-, and
Vietnamese Americans; 2) Evaluate the association of multi-level discrimination on cognitive
performance and levels of AD biomarkers, overall and by ASA subgroup, sex, and primary
language among ARISE participants. Secondary/exploratory Aim: Evaluate the association
between multi-level discrimination and cognitive decline; and 3) Evaluate protective and risk
factors that modify the effects of multi-level discrimination on cognitive performance and levels
of AD biomarkers among ARISE participants. The scientific promise of ARISE is timely and
necessary. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated anti-Asian racism. ARISE
will add to our limited understanding of ASAs who are under-represented and under-engaged in
ADRD and aging research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10900989
- **Project number:** 1R56AG079510-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Van My Ta Park
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $3,432,146
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-21 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10900989

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10900989, Asian Americans & Racism: Individual and Structural Experiences (ARISE) (1R56AG079510-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10900989. Licensed CC0.

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