Recruitment and Retention for Alzheimer's Disease Diversity Genetic Cohorts in the ADSP (READD-ADSP): A global effort to identify genetic factors in Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains a major neurocognitive disorder of global health significance. Globalizing ancestral diversity in AD genetics is essential to identify causal variants, improve diagnosis, and enable equitable therapeutic interventions across populations. The Recruitment and Retention for Alzheimer's Disease Diversity Genetic Cohorts in the ADSP (READD-ADSP) initiative addresses this by including African ancestry and Hispanic/Latinx (HL) ancestry populations. METHODS: READD-ADSP, a case–control study, aims to recruit, evaluate, and retain 13,000 participants: 5000 Indigenous Africans, 4000 African Americans, and 4000 Hispanic/Latinix individuals. In Africa, recruitment involves nine sub-Saharan African countries under the African Dementia Consortium, and with protocols ensuring standardized data collection, phenotype harmonization, culturally informed diagnostic algorithms, and robust community engagement. RESULTS: Study pparticipants are recruited, ascertained and retained. Blood samples and fractions (DNA, plasma, RNA) are biobanked for genomic, epigenomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic analyses. DISCUSSION: This study will advance precision ADRD medicine and establish a model for working with diverse global cohorts of brain disorders. Highlights: Recruitment and Retention for Alzheimer's Disease Diversity Genetic Cohorts in the ADSP (READD-ADSP) addresses critical gaps in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) research by including underrepresented groups. The study recruits 13,000 participants of African, African American, and Hispanic/Latinx ancestries. Standardized protocols enable rigorous phenotyping and harmonization across diverse populations. Findings will inform precision medicine and reduce health disparities in ADRD outcomes.