THE CENTER FOR HEALTH IN COGNITIVE AGING (CHECA): A RCMAR PROGRAM JOINING POPULATION SCIENCE AND HEALTH PROMOTION - Abstract

Sep 29, 2026

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CHECA is a newly funded Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) at the University of Illinois Chicago, built to strengthen behavioral and social research infrastructure. The program aims to diversify the AD/ADRD research workforce through mentorship and training for early-career scientists and to support pilot research. Its focus connects environmental, sociocultural, and biobehavioral drivers of inequities with health-promoting interventions. A symposium showcases four scientists’ studies on pollutants and neurodegeneration biomarkers, mobile technology learning barriers, living-arrangement differences, and dementia-related social isolation linked to unmet care needs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages2

Reading Time5 min

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CHECA overview

Mission and thematic focus

Symposium highlights by scientist

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 173 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.578 THE CENTER FOR HEALTH IN COGNITIVE AGING (CHECA): A RCMAR PROGRAM JOINING POPULATION SCIENCE AND HEALTH PROMOTION Uchechi Mitchell, Julia Bauer, Debaleena Chattopadhyay, Jennifer Kwok, and Zhuoer Lin, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States The Center for Health in Cognitive Aging (CHECA) is a newly funded Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) at the University of Illinois Chicago. CHECA aims to build behavioral and social research infrastructure, diversify the AD/ADRD research workforce through mentorship and training of early-career Scientists, and support pilot research. The center thematically focuses on research that (1) advances our understanding of environmental, sociocultural, and biobehavioral contributors of AD/ADRD inequities; (2) develops or tests health-promoting interventions or resources; and (3) cross-fertilizes population science and health promotion to address inequities in adults with or at risk for AD/ADRD. This symposium highlights 174 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 the exceptional research of four CHECA Scientists: Dr. Bauer’s research identified sex differences in the effects of persistent organic pollutants on biomarkers of neurodegeneration among middle-aged and older adults in the Hispanic Community Health Study. Dr. Chattopadhyay conducted mobile technology learning workshops with older adults with cognitive difficulties and identified challenges with digital security and usability that limited engagement with digital technologies. Dr. Kwok’s research used public use Census data and found racial/ethnic differences in living arrangements among older adults with cognitive difficulties that can influence access to informal caregiving. Lastly, using data from NHATS, Dr. Lin found that among older adults living with dementia, social isolation was positively associated with unmet care needs. Collectively, these projects advance AD/ADRD research across multiple levels of effect—biological, behavioral, familial, and social—and epitomize the interdisciplinary approaches needed to improve cognitive outcomes in diverse populations and address AD/ADRD inequities.

FAQs

What is CHECA and what role does it play in minority aging research?

CHECA is a newly funded RCMAR resource center at the University of Illinois Chicago. It builds behavioral and social research infrastructure, supports pilot research, and strengthens the AD/ADRD research workforce through mentorship and training.

How does CHECA connect population science with health promotion?

CHECA focuses on research that clarifies how environmental, sociocultural, and biobehavioral factors contribute to AD/ADRD inequities. It also develops or tests health-promoting interventions or resources and integrates population science with health promotion to address inequities in at-risk or affected adults.

What key research topics are highlighted in the symposium?

The symposium highlights studies on sex differences in pollutant-related neurodegeneration biomarkers, challenges in digital security and usability for older adults learning via mobile technology, racial/ethnic differences in living arrangements affecting access to informal caregiving, and dementia-related social isolation associated with unmet care needs.

Sep 29, 2026

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