UCSD, UC Davis Receive $15.8M Grant to Study Brain Aging in Latino Communities

The NIH-funded research aims to track cognitive changes and brain health over 12 years.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:13pm

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Researchers at UC San Diego and UC Davis have been awarded a $15.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study brain aging and cognition in the Latino community. The joint study will follow approximately 1,800 Latino adults over 12 years, regularly collecting MRI brain scans, blood biomarkers, and health/lifestyle data to shed new light on the development of neurodegenerative diseases in this population.

Why it matters

Latinos have a higher risk of heart and vascular diseases and are more prone to developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia compared to other groups. This research aims to address the historical lack of aging research focused on Latino communities, which could lead to better early detection tools and prevention strategies tailored to this population.

The details

The research team, led by UCSD neurosciences professor Hector González and UC Davis neurology professor Charles DeCarli, plans to build on their previous collaboration that created the largest known collection of MRI scans from Latinos. Unlike past studies that captured single 'snapshots' of brain activity, this long-term project will record a series of scans over many years to reveal patterns that could explain the higher incidence of cognitive impairment in the Latino community and suggest ways to preserve brain health.

  • The $15.8 million grant was announced on April 1, 2026.
  • The research project will track participants over a 12-year period.

The players

Hector González

A neurosciences professor at UC San Diego and co-principal investigator on the study.

Charles DeCarli

A neurology professor at UC Davis and co-principal investigator on the study.

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What they’re saying

“Latino communities have been historically overlooked in aging research. By studying brain health in a diverse and deeply characterized Latino cohort, we can develop better tools for early detection and more effective strategies for prevention that truly reflect our communities.”

— Hector González, Neurosciences Professor, UC San Diego

What’s next

The research team plans to begin enrolling participants and collecting data in the coming months, with the goal of tracking cognitive changes and brain health over the full 12-year study period.

The takeaway

This landmark study represents a significant investment in understanding brain aging within the Latino community, a population that has historically been underrepresented in aging research. The findings could lead to crucial advancements in early detection and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases that disproportionately impact this group.