The Gaps in Aging Research

Training the next generation of diverse young researchers in recognizing and understanding neurocognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), including health disparities will address gaps in workforce preparedness for serving the aging population, and increase minority representation in the sciences.

We do not have enough trained experts in the research of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs). In the coming decades, the United States and the world will face a critical turning point - a rapidly growing aging population, aged 65 years and older, doubling in size from 40 million to nearly 80 million Americans by the year 2040 (Census 2018). Neurocognitive aging deficits impose tremendous burdens on individuals, families and society. Great efforts have been expended to study both healthy neurocognitive aging and ADRD. Nevertheless, there is a clear and critical impending aging boom, as well as societal, economic and health burdens associated with age-related diseases including ADRD, but to compound these issues, there is an alarming dearth of trained health professionals to address these challenges (Rowe 2016).

Importantly, we also do not have enough underrepresented experts to adequately serve those populations of participants in clinical trials and studies of ADRD. Even though underrepresented minorities, including African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans/Alaskans comprise over a third of the U.S. population, adequate entry and representation of minorities in science and biomedical fields remains comparatively low, and therefore closing this gap continues to be a high national priority (Oh 2015; Valantine 2015). Racial and ethnic minorities also are underrepresented both as research participants and as researchers in biomedical research, potentially exasperating age-related health disparities for ethnic populations. Therefore, gaining further understanding of neurocognitive aging and ADRD disparities in diverse populations via evidence-based research and training in these areas is essential to our nation’s health and health equity.

To learn more about health disparities and the aging phenomenon visit NAARE multimedia curriculum.