# Cognitive impairment in Mexican Americans: a population-based study

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $1,444,065

## Abstract

Abstract
Hispanic/Latinos will comprise more than 30% of the U.S. population by mid-century, and Mexican Americans
account for the largest share of this growing segment of society. This proposal aims to use door-to-door
surveillance in Nueces County, Texas, a non-immigrant, bi-ethnic community, to determine the prevalence and
trajectory over time of cognitive impairment and dementia in Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites. We
will elucidate the mechanisms that explain the hypothesized ethnic disparity in Alzheimer’s disease and
Alzheimer-related dementias by evaluating the roles of vascular disease risk factors, educational attainment
and socio-economic status among others. This research will also delve deeply into the differences in informal
caregiving for Mexican American and non-Hispanic whites with cognitive impairment and dementia. Caregiver
burden and mental and physical health of caregivers will be examined toward efforts to develop interventions
that build resilience in caregivers. A novel ability of this population-based study is to examine community
resources for both patients and caregivers, and how these provisions differ by ethnicity. Using a rigorous mixed
methods approach we will identify the gap between available resources and needs for those with cognitive
impairment and dementia. In this way we will be well positioned to propose ethnic-specific testable
interventions that promote mental and physical health for those with cognitive impairment and dementia, as
well as for those family members who provide the care. This research will therefore lead to improved well-
being, autonomy and outcomes among those with cognitive impairment and dementia and their caregivers.
The investigative team members have conducted research in this community for 20 years and are experts in
Mexican American culture and health, cognitive impairment and dementia, epidemiologic methods, community
needs assessment and health behavior research. As the Mexican American population continues its
tremendous growth and aging it is vitally important to better understand the prevalence and outcomes of
cognitive impairment and dementia in this population, and to rapidly develop interventions that address the
burden of these common conditions in Mexican American adults, families, and communities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9977293
- **Project number:** 5R01NS100687-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** LEWIS B MORGENSTERN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,444,065
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-25 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9977293

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9977293, Cognitive impairment in Mexican Americans: a population-based study (5R01NS100687-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9977293. Licensed CC0.

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