In one of the first national studies of its kind, Cristina A. F. Román, PhD, adjunct research scientist in the Rocco Ortenzio Neuroimaging Center at Kessler Foundation, will examine the impact of barriers to healthcare, cardiovascular risk factors on accelerated brain aging in Hispanic people with multiple sclerosis.
Dr. Román recently received the prestigious Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, part of the National Institutes of Health.
The award will fund an investigation into healthcare disparities that lead to poorer outcomes. In securing this award, Dr. Román leveraged findings from her 2022 pilot study made possible by support from Wakefern Food Corporation and you. “I’m so very grateful for our donors’ generosity, which fuels new discoveries and leads to further research,” she acknowledges.
Understanding care inequities
Healthcare disparities are believed to be strongly influenced by social determinants of health, especially related to healthcare access. Dr. Román adds that, despite limited research on Hispanic people with MS, there is evidence this population encounters greater obstacles in accessing equitable care, which increases their risk of significant additional health conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease.
This, in turn, is shown to contribute to premature declines in brain function. “This accelerated brain aging, when the brain is 'older' than an individual’s chronological age, is emerging as a potential biomarker of disease progression in MS,” notes Dr. Román.
Targeting lived experiences
Dr. Román will recruit 80 participants from across the country in virtual or in-person sessions, who will complete a detailed questionnaire and share their personal experiences accessing healthcare for MS. A portion of participants will also undergo magnetic resonance imaging to identify MS disease progression.
“Using both qualitative and quantitative data will give us a more complete picture,” explains Dr. Román. “This study will have important implications for the treatment of debilitating neurological diseases like MS.” Dr. Román anticipates this study will fill substantial gaps in understanding how societal factors impact the trajectory of MS progression in Hispanic people and potentially other populations. “What we know is that timely intervention and consistent, ongoing medical care are crucial for improving MS prognosis. Our goal is that this and future studies will result in equitable care and improved health for all.”
