UGUniversity of Georgia · Social Science
Alzheimer's Health Disparities Lab
Steven R Beach · Athens, Georgia
Research Focus
Dr. Steven R. Beach's lab at the University of Georgia focuses on understanding the factors that affect Alzheimer's disease, particularly among African Americans who are often underrepresented in research. The lab investigates how social, economic, and genetic factors influence the biomarkers related to Alzheimer's, using a long-term study that tracks families over many years. They aim to identify ways to improve health trajectories and potentially mitigate the impact of Alzheimer's disease in vulnerable populations.
Alzheimer's DiseasebiomarkersAfrican American healthsocial determinants of healthchronic stresslongitudinal studiesobservational researchgenetic factorscognitionhealth disparities
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the relationship between social stressors and Alzheimer's disease biomarkers.
AIM 02Examine how economic hardship impacts cognitive health in African Americans.
AIM 03Analyze changes in Alzheimer's disease biomarkers over time using longitudinal data.
AIM 04Identify lifestyle factors that influence aging and neurodegeneration.
AIM 05Explore genetic and physiological factors that moderate the effect of environmental stressors on brain health.
Skills the Lab Values
blood-based biomarker analysisdata collection from longitudinal studiesstatistical modelinggene-environment interaction studiesassays of biological markerscommunity engagementquantitative research methodsmixed-methods researchhealth assessmentsocioeconomic data analysis
Output against the department
Publications471top 9% of dept.7th of 77
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations23ktop 10% of dept.8th of 77
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.