# Rio Grande Valley Alzheimer's Resource Center for Minority Aging Research: Partnerships for Progress

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY · 2024 · $639,336

## Abstract

Summary – Overall
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD) disproportionately impact Hispanic Americans,
who exhibit AD/ADRD rates 1.5 times higher and average onset 7 years earlier than do older Whites. Predicted
growth of the US Hispanic population, faster in Texas portends exacerbation of the elevated health and
economic burdens of AD/ADRD in Hispanics. A shortage of researchers focused on AD/ADRD in Hispanic
Americans, particularly from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, restricts progress in this area, and is a key
factor contributing to the severe underrepresentation of Hispanic Americans in research studies in AD/ADRD.
To overcome these barriers, responding to NIA's AD/ADRD RCMAR Program (RFA-AG-23-025), and
leveraging the robust mentorship and research infrastructure our RCMAR developed during the first 5-yr
funding cycle, we aim to continue the Rio Grande Valley AD/ADRD RCMAR: Partnership for Progress at the
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), one of the nation's largest Hispanic-serving institutions. We
will combine evidence-based mentoring and support mechanisms to develop and promote a first-rate regional
and national cadre of researchers from underrepresented groups, to analyze the complex mechanisms and
interacting factors that contribute to disparate Hispanic AD/ADRD vulnerability. The Center will support
development of social and behavioral interventions using the NIH Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention
Development, considering pathways and developmental time points at which changes in social circumstances
and behavior can exert the largest favorable impacts on the prevention and progression of AD/ADRD among
Hispanic populations. The Center will also exploit its unique resources to develop infrastructure and data
collections that will attract and support researchers from multiple disciplines to conduct research aimed at
reducing impacts of AD/ADRD on Hispanics. UTRGV's socio-demographic profile reflects that of its local
community, positioning it uniquely to advance studies of disparities in health & health care and contribute
innovative solutions to improve minorities' health. To achieve the Center's goals, the aims are: 1) Identify,
engage, mentor, and provide high-quality training and individualized career development support to
outstanding faculty, especially from underrepresented groups; 2) Support innovative, high-impact
multidisciplinary pilot projects; 3) Continue providing expertise and resources for culturally-sensitive measures
& analysis of cognitive risk factors in older Hispanics, including behavioral, neuropsychological, neuroimaging,
cardiovascular, and genetic traits; and 4) Create needed expertise & resources to develop social/behavioral
interventions at different ecological levels, via sustained community engagement of older Hispanics and their
care partners in South TX. We will achieve these aims by continuation of 3 Cores (Leadership & Admin.,
Analysis, Community Liaison/Recr...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10907827
- **Project number:** 5P30AG059305-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY
- **Principal Investigator:** Gladys E. Maestre
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $639,336
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-15 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10907827

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10907827, Rio Grande Valley Alzheimer's Resource Center for Minority Aging Research: Partnerships for Progress (5P30AG059305-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10907827. Licensed CC0.

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