Despite remarkable advances in clinical and basic research on Alzheimer's disease over the past decade, ethnic minority groups have remained under- represented both in research populations and as beneficiaries of new findings. The University of Washington's ADRC Satellite Core aims to help reduce this racial and economic disparity through several interdigitating programs. The Satellite has developed cohorts of well-characterized elderly ethnic minority subjects, both with and without AD, who are followed longitudinally. Through collaborative efforts with ethnic minority service agencies throughout Washington state, it contributes to the training of community health and social service providers in effective management of the many clinical problems associated with progression of AD and related dementias. Through its focus on ethnic minorities, the Satellite makes new populations available for research on genetic determinants of dementing disorders, the contribution of education and medical comorbidities to development and course of dementia, and special caregiver needs. Through its linkage with the clinical geriatric training programs in medicine and psychiatry at the University of Washington, it sensitizes physicians to minority issues in the care of demented patients and provides a base for developing new research initiatives. Over the next five years, the Satellite will further expand representation of Washington's multi-ethnic communities in AD research through enhancement of existing community collaborations, active outreach to create new community linkages, and specific targeting strategies appropriate to African-Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Americans, and Hispanic elderly. As a Core of the ADRC, the Satellite will continue to provide subjects as appropriate to the needs of other AD investigators at the University of Washington. Nationally, it is committed to building synergy among ADRC Satellites to enhance research on minority elders.
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