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Natives Engaged in Alzheimer’s Research
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Battling Dementia in Native and Pacific Islander Communities

In August 2021, Natives Engaged in Alzheimer’s Research, or NEAR, was awarded $14.6 million by the National Institute on Aging to combat disparities associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander groups. This is the first time these populations have been included in this type of program project grant from the National Institute on Aging.

Three main research projects within the Natives Engaged in Alzheimer’s Research grant will work on understanding, intervening on, and mitigating Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias experienced by American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander people.

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INTACT

Indians Transforming Alzheimer’s Care Training

CATNAP

Cognition After OSA Treatment Among Native American People

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Patient and Provider Focus Groups

The INdians Transforming Alzheimer’s Care Treatment (INTACT) team has completed patient and provider focus groups which provided feedback on how to adapt Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias patient and caregiver educational material from the Dementia […]
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“Our scientists are grounded in the lived experience and history of trauma surrounding research in Native and Pacific Islander communities. The team will bring an essential understanding of research ethics, stakeholder consultation and cultural humility to effectively and appropriately test interventions to detect and treat dementia in these groups.”

— Dedra Buchwald, MD
NEAR Principal Investigator
Professor, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
Director, Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health