Objectives: To describe recent advances in our knowledge regarding the health and illness of older American Indians and Alaska Natives, and factors underlying why this special population lives 5.5 years less than the 78.5 years of U.S. all races. Methods: The articles in this supplemental issue, authored by participants in a National Institutes of Health-sponsored early research career development program, examine high priority health concerns that contribute to the increased risk of Native elders for chronic disease and resulting impairment that compromise their life expectancy. Results: Important insights into the roles that racial discrimination, food security, hypertension, alcohol consumption, memory problems, and military service play in the health and well-being of older American Indians and Alaska Natives. Discussion: Early career faculty development programs focused on increasing the diversity of the scientific workforce not only promote greater racial and ethnic minority representation in the field of aging, but can simultaneously add to the knowledge base regarding the health status and function of often ignored, vulnerable older members of communities that suffer significant health disparities.
Keywords: Alaska Native; American Indian; and function; demographic and epidemiologic transitions; health risk; older adults; status.