Overview

The NIH has established 38 Alzheimer’s Disease and Research Centers (ADRC). New Mexico ADRC is one of the newly funded centers in 2024. It is the only ADRC in the Rocky Mountain region. The NM ADRC brings to New Mexico access to an extensive network of research centers that have been at the forefront of dementia research for over 30 years. As part of the group, NM ADRC will partner with the diverse and unique population in the state for dementia care, the opportunity for people to participate in research studies and future clinical trials. Our mission is to care for the cognitively impaired elderly residents of New Mexico as well as those who are at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRDs). Not only are the ADRCs involved in research, but they are important in training the next generation of medical providers at all levels of training.

The NM ADRC is within the UNM Center for Memory and Aging (CMA). NM ADRC was established three years ago (in 2020) as an exploratory ADRC. The exploratory award allowed us to begin the work, which will be expanded in the new grant. New Mexico is a frontier state with a large land mass and a sparse population. One of the main aims is to reach out to underrepresented populations, notably Hispanics and American Indians in the rural areas of the state and connect them with a network of dementia care professionals.

Many new treatments can modify the disease process by removing the proteins that accumulate in the brain and damage nerve cells. Blood-based biomarkers can be developed to screen large populations for early signs of dementia. One of the NM ADRC goals is to use blood-based biomarkers to select people who will need further testing.

In addition to providing state-of-the-art, research-based diagnosis and treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, the NM ADRC will be a resource for research into the molecular mechanisms underlying ADRD and the training of the next generation of caregivers and researchers to expand the dementia workforce in New Mexico.