Cognitive Disparities in Parkinson's Disease

The proposed study will use a cross-sectional design to determine the presence of NCI in 120 persons with PD (age 40+), living in the US-Mexico borderland of California or in North Carolina, including 60 Hispanics and 60 non-Hispanic Whites. All participants will complete comprehensive neuromedical and neuropsychological evaluations, a blood draw and assessments of socio-cultural factors (e.g., health literacy, access to care, acculturation, bilingualism, discrimination, socioeconomic status). Using these data we will examine the extent to which CVD risk (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, obesity), PD severity and social determinants of health drive NCI among Hispanics with PD. The present proposal will capitalize on the infrastructure and expertise available at Duke University and will follow a community-based participatory research approach to complete the proposed study aims.