Brain Health and Ethnic Disparities in ADRD Risk: The Case of Arab Americans - Covid Supplement

Project Abstract: This application for an NIA Administrative Supplement proposes to expand Alzheimer's Disease Risk andEthnic Factors: The Case of Arab Americans (R01AG057510) to incorporate an assessment of COVID-19stress as an area of investigation through an immediate, brief telephone interview. The parent study is the firstof its kind to focus on AD health disparities in Arab Americans aged 65 and over living in the metro-Detroitarea, home to the largest and most visible Arab American community in the US. Building on the original study,the planned supplement leverages an existing longitudinal study of Blacks and Whites from the samegeographic area. Capitalizing on the bilingual data collection instruments prepared and finalized for the parentnow delayed face-to-face study, we will conduct telephone interviews to address the following aims: 1)Characterize prevalence of COVID-19 stress types and cognitive health in metro-Detroit among threeracial/ethnic groups; 2) Identify aspects of social relations that buffer links between COVID-19 stress andcognitive health; and 3) Determine the role of pre-existing social resources on COVID-19 stress and cognitivehealth. This project will document the prevalence of pandemic stress and its link to cognitive health amongthese vulnerable older adults in three prominent racial/ethnic groups in Michigan. Further, the telephone modeof the proposed data collection will provide a methodological opportunity to compare modes of cognitive healthdata collection between the newly proposed and parent study (delayed due to COVID-19) among diverseracial/ethnic groups. Establishing reactions to COVID-19 and examining links to cognitive health provides aninnovative, cost effective opportunity to more fully identify health disparities. Understanding the contribution ofsocial relations will refine theory about stress and cognitive health, provide key information to better prepare forfuture pandemics and develop intervention strategies for eradication of cognitive health disparities.