National institute on minority health and health disparities research framework

Conversation with Dr. Jaime Perales Puchalt, University of Kansas

Dr. Perales Puchalt, principal investigator at University of Kansas, discusses his research on disparities in dementia care for Latino families and how he and his team are closing the gap as we celebrate National Hispanic American Heritage Month.

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Poor Diet Quality, Food Insecurity, and Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is more common in all U.S. racial and ethnic minority groups than in non-Hispanic White populations. A recent study shows that diet quality, food security, race/ethnicity, and access to health care affect control of T2D.

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Medicaid Expansion Benefits Young Adults

ACA Medicaid expansion led to improved access to health care and decreases in health disparities, including reducing the number of uninsured patients and the rate at which young Black trauma patients die in the hospital following their injuries.

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It offers a systematic approach by which to identify and locate influences that may be especially relevant to understanding the health and well being of American Indians and Alaska Natives. This is particularly true in regard to determinants thought to be salient for this population, but which are often not considered by conventional research because they reside outside of the normal experience of non-Native groups. Examples include spirituality, collective resilience, historical trauma, non-biomedical constructions of illness, traditional healing resources, boarding school education, alternate financing and structure of healthcare, tribal sovereignty, major federal Indian policies, and the like. As depicted in the above table, such determinants fall naturally within these dimensions of influence, and can be readily operationalized, measured, and analyzed in ways analogous to their conceptual counterparts for other populations.

The NIA Health Disparities Research Framework showcases priorities and investments in this important aging research area. This page is designed to serve as a resource for scientists interested in investigating health disparities related to aging. The Framework outlines four key levels of analysis related to disparities research–environmental, sociocultural, behavioral, and biological—with priority focus areas in each level. As we continue to address the issue of disparities among older minority populations, the Framework will help assess which areas are most in need of additional research resources. Developing aging research studies that reflect the levels of analysis described in the framework can also shape evidenced-based interventions to help address, understand, and possibly end structural racism, discrimination, and health inequities. Using the Framework as a guide, NIA has awarded over $100 million in research awards since 2015 to explore the environmental, sociocultural, behavioral, and biological determinants of health disparities related to aging.

Peruse the Framework by clicking on its interactive components, and watch the NIA Health Disparities Research Framework video.

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