New Grant Targets Indigenous Alzheimer's Research Access
American Indian and Alaska Native adults may see culturally tailored materials as the project recruits for future Alzheimer's studies.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Alzheimer’s
Live Poll
Would you trust medical researchers enough to take part in a genetic health study?
Washington State University researchers received a $2.7 million National Institutes of Health grant to improve how they communicate Alzheimer's research with Indigenous communities. The five-year project has begun recruiting participants, including at a powwow in Seattle this summer.
Why it matters
Alzheimer's research depends on people volunteering for studies, and American Indian and Alaska Native communities have historically been underrepresented in that work. Developing culturally tailored outreach aims to make participation more accessible and trustworthy for these communities, which matters for both prevention and future treatment.
The project is a five-year, NIH-funded effort that will develop and test culturally tailored materials for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Researchers have so far conducted more than 300 surveys on biomarker research at the Seafair Indian Days Powwow, and the materials' effectiveness has yet to be evaluated.
The players
Washington State University
A public research university whose Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health conducts the CHANGE project.
National Institutes of Health
The federal agency that funds biomedical research, including Alzheimer's and aging studies, through grants such as this $2.7 million award.
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
A Seattle-based organization that partners with the CHANGE project to engage American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
The details
The project, called Communicating Health Advancements from Native GEnomics (CHANGE), is run through Washington State University's Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health and works with the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation. Researchers will interview American Indian and Alaska Native adults about the factors that affect whether they take part in research, and use those insights to build outreach materials. Those materials will then be tested in a pilot study before any broader use in future clinical trials.
Timeline
Summer 2026: the project began recruiting participants at the Seafair Indian Days Powwow in Seattle.
Over a five-year period, the CHANGE project is funded under a National Institute on Aging grant.
Health Landscape
Alzheimer's research has long struggled with enrollment diversity, and American Indian and Alaska Native adults are among the groups least represented in clinical studies. CHANGE addresses that gap at the recruitment stage rather than only at the level of study design.
If you are an American Indian or Alaska Native adult, you may encounter these culturally tailored materials if you are invited to take part in future Alzheimer's research, and it is reasonable to ask your doctor how such studies might fit your care. Anyone with questions about memory changes should raise them with a physician rather than relying on research outreach.
The takeaway
Research participation can be a meaningful way to advance dementia care, and outreach that respects community perspectives helps make studies more inclusive. If you are considering a clinical trial, ask your physician whether it is appropriate for your situation.
Further reading
For broader context on research in this area, explore Alzheimer’s coverage on We are Healthy.
Live Poll
Would you trust medical researchers enough to take part in a genetic health study?
