The Clinical Core supports the mission of the New Mexico Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center by building and maintaining a long‑term, community‑based cohort to advance dementia research. The Core focuses on understanding early disease mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease and vascular cognitive impairment and dementia, and on developing and validating imaging‑ and fluid‑based biomarkers in diverse populations. As a newly established center, recruitment will prioritize individuals with early biomarker evidence of Alzheimer’s disease, those at high risk for vascular cognitive impairment, and cognitively healthy volunteers, all followed over time to better understand disease progression.
To promote equitable and inclusive research, the Clinical Core will recruit American Indian, Hispanic/Latino, and non‑Hispanic White participants in equal proportions. This balanced cohort will support studies of early inflammation, neurovascular dysfunction, and dementia disparities across populations. Assessments will also include sociocultural factors—such as bilingualism, educational quality, health literacy, and access to care—that influence cognitive testing and shape risk and resilience, particularly in American Indian and Hispanic/Latino communities.
The Clinical Core will develop culturally responsive approaches to participant communication and return of results. By assessing participant preferences and evaluating communication strategies, the Core will create feedback processes that are respectful, understandable, and accessible across a wide range of literacy levels, supporting long‑term brain health and sustained study participation.
Working closely with the Imaging and Biomarker Cores, the Clinical Core will support multimodal imaging, biospecimen collection, and comprehensive clinical assessments. In partnership with the Research Education Component, the Core will also help train the next generation of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias researchers, with an emphasis on supporting individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Together, these efforts aim to reduce health disparities, strengthen community resilience, and promote healthy aging across New Mexico’s diverse communities.
