BYU Pacific Islanders bring Alzheimer's tools to their communities

Although Pacific Islander and native Hawaiian populations are thought to have a higher than average incidence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, the actual rate of disease is unknown because the communities are under-represented in health research. In a national Alzheimer's DNA database, only 17 DNA samples out of 45,000 were from these populations. Studying the disease was also difficult because diagnostic tools and educational materials had never been translated or adapted for Samoan, Tongan and other languages.

BYU Hawaii President John "Keoni" Kauwe, with BYU PhD candidate Justina Tavana, are part of a team -- many of whom are Pacific Islanders themselves -- that is developing improved diagnostic tools and further DNA research in these communities. At brain health events held in the U.S. and American Samoa, BYU and BYU Hawaii students, along with colleagues in the Natives Engaged in Alzheimer's Research project, have now collected nearly 800 DNA samples from Pacific Islander populations. They hope to collect 3,000+ as part of a multi-year study funded by the National Institute on Aging.

Natives Engaged in Alzheimer's Research is a collaborative project led by President John S. Kauwe, Dr. Dedra Buchwald, a professor in Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and the director of the Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH), and Dr. James Galvin, professor of neurology and director of the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health University of Miami. See near.byu.edu

Additional footage provided by BYU Hawaii, Wakeful State Productions and Alby Molina.
Learn more:
news.byu.edu/byu-major-partner-in-project-to-combat-alzheimers-dementia-in-native-pacific-islander-communities

Видео BYU Pacific Islanders bring Alzheimer's tools to their communities канала Brigham Young University