Public Health.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genetics
• Public Health

Background:

• Addresses the underrepresentation of Asian Americans and Asian Canadians (ASACs) in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) research.
• Highlights the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate research instruments for diverse Asian populations.
• ACAD study initiated with Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean communities to investigate AD risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a culturally and linguistically appropriate Data Collection Packet (DCP) for AD research.
• To encourage participation of Asian older adults in AD research by addressing potential barriers.
• To gather crucial data on genetic and non-genetic AD risk factors within specific Asian ethnic subgroups.

Main Methods:

• DCP development led by ACAD Clinical Core, involving interdisciplinary experts.
• Protocol initially focused on virtual procedures to overcome pandemic-related limitations.
• Collaboration with Data Management, Training and Quality Assurance, and Biosample Cores for seamless administration and data entry.

Main Results:

• DCP available in Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, and Vietnamese, covering demographics, lifestyle, cognitive, functional, psychiatric, and medical history.
• Neurological examination data combined with DCP information allows for consensus diagnosis (Normal Control, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia).
• As of January 2025, ACAD consented 1,173 participants, collected 885 samples, and completed 864 diagnoses.

Conclusions:

• ACAD developed DCP and sample collection protocols to address the gap in ASACs' representation in AD research.
• Pilot phase demonstrated successful virtual assessments, indicating feasibility and effectiveness.
• Expanded recruitment is planned for Spring 2025 to further enhance study participation and data acquisition.