Engaging Hispanic/Latino young adults in Alzheimer's disease research through boot camp translation

Despite increased risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRDs), Hispanic/Latino (H/L) populations remain underrepresented in research due to several barriers (e.g., stigma, health literacy). Considering family dynamics and cultural values, young H/L individuals may serve as liaisons to help communicate ADRD information and mitigate barriers to research participation.

We recruited two groups of predominantly H/L young adults, ages 18-35, to carry out Boot Camp Translation (BCT) of ADRD in Houston, Texas (n = 12), and Las Vegas, Nevada (n = 15). Through BCT, we sought to identify (1) key AD-related messages, (2) target message recipients, and (3) effective strategies to convey these messages. ADRD knowledge was assessed pre- and post-BCT.

Members endorsed improvements in subjective understanding (Cohen's d = 1.37; p = .001) and objective knowledge of ADRD (Cohen's d = 0.96; p< .001). Suggested central messaging conveyed urgency and responsibility (e.g., "Alzheimer's is real. Healthy or not: On which side do you want to be?"), provided ADRD educational information (e.g., common symptoms), and represented H/L cultural values (familismo; e.g., "Alzheimer's is not the end. You are not alone"). Identified target age groups differed by city; Houston: 50+ years, 30-49 years, 18-29 years; Las Vegas: 40- and 50-year-olds. Members emphasized visual materials that are intergenerational, representative of the diverse H/L community, informative, and straightforward.

Extending our prior work with BCT in middle-age and older adults, we leveraged intra-familial communication to better understand ADRD-specific health education in H/L communities. While several messaging strategies appeared consistent across sites, regional differences in target audiences and preferred communication strategies highlight the importance of locally tailored messaging. Results identified culturally relevant avenues by which young adults may communicate ADRD research to older family members, fostering engagement. Future work is needed to examine the efficacy and effectiveness of these strategies in service of increasing H/L representation in ADRD research.