The overarching theme of the USC ADRC is to elucidate vascular contributions to Alzheimer disease (AD), among diverse populations. Treatable cardiovascular risk factors are particularly prevalent among the Latinx population, but it remains unclear whether the epidemiological associations between cardiovascular risk factors and AD result from increased amyloidosis and tauopathy or reflect the additive effect of cerebrovascular disease. The addition of amyloid and tau PET scans, combined with advanced, high field MRI protocols which interrogate blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, vascular morphometry, arterial pulsatility, perivascular spaces, and cerebral blood flow will enable elucidation of these distinct pathophysiological pathways. The two-fold goals of this supplement are to contribute standardized amyloid-PET, tau-PET, and MRI neuroimaging studies on a sample of 30 elderly Latinx (> 60 years of age) to SCAN and to promote ADRD research in Latinx across all USC ADRC cores and affiliated studies. The USC ADRC participates in the national SCAN consortium funded by an administrative supplement from the National Institute on Aging.
Contact to learn more: Helena.Chui@med.usc.edu